The age of Queen Elizabeth I (reigned 1558-1603) saw a flowering of the arts in Britain not least in the plays of Shakespeare. Painting flourished too, although principally in the form of portraiture. The Queen herself took a keen interest in her portraits, guiding artists such as Hilliard and Gheeraerts in the creation of stylised images of immense elegance, wealth and power. This artificial and decorative style became characteristic of Elizabethan painting in general. Highly skilled artists often remained anonymous as in The Cholmondeley Ladies.