8-4Art

What were popular forms of art and sculpture in Elizabethan England? // Answer prepared by Sarah L. // One of the most flourishing and strongest eras of art was the Elizabethan Era. This was partially due Queen Elizabeth I's love of the arts. Some of the most popular art forms were miniature paintings, large scale paintings, and silver works. Miniature paintings are paintings made on a small scale. This era was also dominated by portraiture which was promoted by the Queen who loved her portrait taken. It reached its peak in the late 1500's and ended shortly after that. Another form of expanding art was dramatic performances. This is a time when they became very popular and well known. William Shakespeare had a lot of influence on the rise of drama and performing.

Many famous artists learned their great teqhniques from places such as European Mannerism and Fontainebleau. The most famous miniature paintings were done by Nicholas Hilliard who would was known for emphasizing elegance. By this, I mean highlighting the person's extravagant features. For example,a rich and noble being would want to have their self portrait done looking rich, powerful, and elegant. They might ask the artist to emphasize the lace on their outfit, armor, embroidery and weapons. This would give an impression to others that the person was wealthy enough to wear or afford such details to add to their style. Another art that flourished during the Elizabethan art Era was domestic silver. This was very popular at the time, and there was an increasing demand for it over the 15th century for several reasons. First off, growth in population was increasing therefore leading to greater demand. Secondly, expansion of middle and upper class contributed to this huge popularity increase. Why was silver so preferred? It could be used for many daily necessities such as decorative plates, embroidery, and suits of armor. As I referred to __Art in England During the Elizabethan and Stuart Periods__, I realized how elaborate and detailed the paintings were during this era. Each piece included everything from borders to hairs on a head. London was considered the heart of England art and culture, and was renowned for its fantastic flourishing arts. Many poets and dramatists were at their peak also, including William Shakespeare.

Elizabethan art was also known to borrow styles from other countries. This included Italian, Continental Gothic, and Flemish designs. Elizabethan Art played a huge part in the show of status, wealth, prosperity and power. It became a huge part of English culture and could be found in almost every aspect of daily life. According to Felix Emmanuel Schelling's book __Elizabethan Drama, 1558-1642: A History of the Drama in England from the Accession of Queen Elizabeth to the Closing of the Theaters__, “so far as the popular stage was concerned, the classical spirit exercised a regulative and indirect influence." This means that the people of England were very affected by drama and what it had to offer; it played a large role in their lives. Everything from clothing to dramatic performances could be considered a form of art.

Picture of a noble Elizabethan in the late 16th century (found at [|www.nwarenfest.org/ Elizabethan%20Art.html])

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