A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I of England in her early 30s by Steven van der Meulen. Parliament and the public expected her to marry to continue the royal lineage. The large two meter tall painting was intended to emphasize her availability and made full use of the symbolism popular in Tudor England. The tapestry in the background features a royal crest to the left with an empty throne beneath it, representing the hope for future king (and therefore the queen's marriage). To the right of the tapestry is a scheme of ripe fruit and sweet flowers, echoing the queen's "ripeness" for matrimony. This theme is further reinforced by Queen Elizabeth holding a carnation, which was considered a symbol of marriage. Though she had many suitors, Queen Elizabeth would never marry, later being venerated as the "Virgin Queen".