Elizabeth

Elizabethan England and The Arts

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Elizabeth’s reign was sometimes referred to as England's Golden Age, an era of peace and prosperity, when the arts had a chance to flourish and blossom, with Elizabeth's support.

The Elizabethan nobility loved to have a good time, and knew just how to have it.

The wealthy of the land would entertain each other with great banquets of rich foods, wine, music and dancing.

While she worked hard at court, Elizabeth also took time for leisurely pursuits.

Evenings at court were full of entertainments, often dedicated to the Queen, and when she was travelling, special performances were often put on for her.

Elizabeth was also a patron of the Arts and Literature, and loved watching plays, masques, and other dramatic performances.

She had her own company of actors, called "The Queen's Players", and these would often perform plays for her and her courtiers. Robert Dudley also had his own company, and he would pay them to perform before the Queen.

The Elizabethans loved music, and their Queen was no exception.

Elizabeth enjoyed listening to music, instrumental and vocal, encouraged musicians and composers, and was a skilled musician herself, playing the virginals and the lute.

Elizabeth also liked to sing, and reputedly sang well.

Thomas Tallis and William Byrd, were among her court musicians, although its been said that she had over 70 musicians at one point.

Elizabeth's reign supported the creation of works by such greats as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.

Writers would pay tribute to the queen, in many literary forms.

In 'The Faerie Queen', written by poet Edmund Spenser, the character of 'Gloriana' is based on Elizabeth, and she was sometimes referred to, by this name.

When Shakespeare was born in 1564, Elizabeth had been Queen of England for just 5 years.

While most of his plays were written after her death, we do know she saw a few of Shakespeare's plays performed, and that he had also performed at her Court.

Like most English people though, Elizabeth did not distinguish much between popular entertainment, and the higher arts.

She was as happy to watch a fireworks display, as to listen to her court musicians perform, or attend a play, as long as she found it entertaining.

Embroidery was a popular pastime for women, and Elizabeth would sometimes spend an evening embroidering with her maids of honour, and ladies in waiting.

Elaborate textiles and embroidery, prevailed in the decorative arts, and sculpture found its place within the confines of tombs, and architectural decoration.

Demand for 'domestic silver' significantly increased, because of rapid growth in population ~ and the subsequent expansion of the middle and upper classes.

Portraiture was the reigning form of painting at the time, and artists honored Elizabeth by painting her portrait.

These images reveal that Elizabeth was an early fashionista, in many ways.

She loved jewelry and beautiful clothing, and her garments were often made with gold and silver.

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Biography/Elizabethi.org

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https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders

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The Hampden Portrait, Queen Elizabeth I, circa 1563.