George Puttenham
The Arte of English Poesie (London, 1589)
Newberry Library (Case YO4 .719)
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When George Puttenham set out to write a treatise on English poetry, he drew on Elizabeth both as a subject for poets and as "the most excellent poet" herself. Elizabeth was a skillful poet who used elusive language to hint at personal feelings without revealing them. Puttenham's "By this noble portrait," lists the personal perfections of Elizabeth and is shaped like a pillar to signify her magnificence. The poem is meant to be read upward, from the bottom to the top.

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