Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-4-the-arts [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history.md) › [Edexcel](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel.md) › The Arts # The Arts History: Edexcel A Level England, 1509-1603, topic 4.3.4 ## Patronage of the Arts The Arts flourished in England, particularly influenced by the Renaissance in Europe. However, musicians, artists, and poets could only thrive if supported and promoted by patrons. ### Art and Henry VIII ![Art and Henry VIII](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/14913e76-358b-462d-a3ea-1b28d4c65a8a/henry-viii-8th-tudor-.jpg) - Henry VIII was a keen patron of the arts. Primarily, he used portraiture to communicate his power. Images presented him as fecund (to emphasise the longevity of the Tudor dynasty). - Henry VIII commissioned portraits from his royal painter, Hans Holbein. - Strong (1967): "Henry VIII's construction and dissemination of his royal images as the first propaganda campaign in English history". ### Art and Elizabeth I ![Art and Elizabeth I](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/83f61af0-24e5-4ca0-9d4c-35ab6d27653f/thuumbs-up-down-.jpg) - Walker (2003): "Elizabeth changed the image of monarchy for ever". - Elizabeth was not a keen patron of art. Primarily, surviving portraits of Elizabeth were commissioned by the nobility to gain favour or lobby the Queen. - E.g. the Sieve Portraits commissioned by Sir Christopher Hatton, which stressed Elizabeth I’s virginity during her courtship with the Duke of Anjou. - E.g. The Rainbow Portrait commissioned by Cecil. ### Music ![Music](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/1ed22e59-c1db-4711-81c9-44d986a94cca/lute-instrument-.jpg) - Under Elizabeth I, England’s composers were equal (if not superior) to their contemporaries on the continent. - Elizabeth I herself was an accomplished musician, particularly on the lute and virginals (an instrument like a keyboard). - Elizabeth I commissioned William Byrd to compose music for the Chapel Royal. - E.g. he wrote the 'Great Service'. ### Poetry ![Poetry](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/91b68937-50cc-41b1-9123-1fa9e7ddd559/Poetry%2C_Florence_Earle_Coates%2C_autograph_verse.jpg) - In the Elizabethan Court, courtiers would try and gain the Queen’s attention (and favour) through poetry. They either presented their own poetry or commissioned poets. - Butler (2015): Courtiers would give intimate performances of their own poetry. - E.g. Edmund Spenser’s ‘Fairie Queene’. ### Drama ![Drama](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/a87d8f86-59ed-42e4-a0e9-5341ab4b8f52/Shakespear-England-Poetry.jpg) - The Tudor period was defined by Shakespeare’s plays. - Shakespeare benefited from the patronage of Henry Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton. - Although Elizabeth I was not a patron of Shakespeare’s, he dedicated plays to her. E.g. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. ## Developments in the Arts The arts were heavily influenced by the Italian Renaissance. Arts flourished under Tudor patronage. ### Drama ![Drama](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/b3d8539b-0353-4c87-a808-850643bd694a/globe-theatre-.jpg) - Shakespeare is the most famous playwright of the Tudor period. - However, there were other great playwrights, such as Christopher Marlowe (who wrote plays including Dr. Faustus). - Elizabeth was a keen supporter of plays. However, Puritans believed the theatre distracted people from prayer, or even as sinful. - A letter from the Lord Mayor of London (1597): “Plays give opportunities for the ungodly people that are within this city to assemble themselves.” - The Privy Council (1600): “It is considered that the use of such plays, not being evil in itself, may with good order and moderation be suffered in a well governed state”. ### Music ![Music](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/7a437827-670d-4d51-af85-1ad0b678a2d1/organ-church-.jpg) - Many of the Tudor monarchs were accomplished musicians. - Henry VII employed foreign musicians for his court to bring new influences to England. - Elizabeth encouraged musicians such as William Byrd and Thomas Tallis, employing them in her Chapel Royal. She spent around £1,500 annually on music. - The Tudor period saw the rise of congregational music. - E.g. From 1662 onwards, the Book of Common Prayer included singing anthems. ### Poetry ![Poetry](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/e4ca2a2a-1677-4a5b-8a8a-2575f1299af6/poetry.jpg) - English poetry was influenced by the Renaissance. - Poetry was read aloud, not to be read on a page. - Key poets included: - Thomas Wyatt introduced the Petrarchan sonnet into the English canon. (A Petrarchan sonnet has two stanzas. One has eight lines, the other has six. It has a rigid rhyming structure). - Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. - Walter Raleigh. - Philip Sidney. - William Shakespeare created his own form of sonnet. This was an adaption of Petrarch’s form. ### Architecture ![Architecture](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/8f203ca7-9deb-4b7b-a7cf-28a95051ed86/hampton-court.jpg) Theatres: - In this era, many of the first permanent theatres were built. Rich and poor attended the same performances for the first time. - The Globe was built in the City of Southwark, as the City of London was opposed to the construction of theatres. They were said to encourage crime and create disruption. - Palaces: - Howarth (1997)” “The Tudor royal palace was a theatre of kingship”. - Henry VII built palaces such as Richmond Palace. - Henry VIII had nearly 60 residences. The grandest was Nonsuch Palace. - Elizabeth I did not support royal buildings. This led to the rise in ‘prodigy houses’ by Elizabeth’s courtiers (such as Cecil). ## Test yourself on The Arts - Who composed the 'Great Service'? - Instruments Elizabeth I played - From when did the Book of Common Prayer include singing anthems? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/c32e8aa5-abeb-44ce-b7ad-e2162a2d0658/section/e6972ad3-7f98-4bea-ab2d-57d3b2b6a4fc/session) - Previous topic: [4.3.3 Patronage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-3-patronage.md) - Next topic: [4.3.5 Cult of Gloriana](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-5-cult-of-gloriana.md) ## History: Edexcel A Level England, 1509-1603 contents ### 1 Monarch & Government - 1.1 Tudor Monarchs - [1.1.1 Henry VII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-1-henry-vii.md) - [1.1.2 Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-2-henry-viii.md) - [1.1.3 Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-3-edward-vi.md) - [1.1.4 Mary I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-4-mary-i.md) - [1.1.5 Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-5-elizabeth-i.md) - [1.1.6 Succession Disputes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-1-6-succession-disputes.md) - 1.2 Changing Role of Parliament - [1.2.1 Parliament & Henry VII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-2-1-parliament-and-henry-vii.md) - [1.2.2 Parliament & Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-2-2-parliament-and-henry-viii.md) - [1.2.3 Parliament After the Reformation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-2-3-parliament-after-the-reformation.md) - 1.3 Principal Servants to the Crown - [1.3.1 Principal Servants to the Crown](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/1-3-1-principal-servants-to-the-crown.md) ### 2 Religious Changes - 2.1 Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change - [2.1.1 The Henrician Reformation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-1-the-henrician-reformation.md) - [2.1.2 Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-2-impact-of-religious-change-under-henry-viii.md) - [2.1.3 Religious Change Under Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-3-religious-change-under-edward-vi.md) - [2.1.4 Religious Change Under Mary I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-4-religious-change-under-mary-i.md) - [2.1.5 Elizabethan Settlement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-1-5-elizabethan-settlement.md) - 2.2 Catholicism & Survival - [2.2.1 Popular Attitudes to Catholicism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-1-popular-attitudes-to-catholicism.md) - [2.2.2 Catholicism Under Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-2-catholicism-under-henry-viii.md) - [2.2.3 Catholicism Under Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-3-catholicism-under-elizabeth-i.md) - [2.2.4 Catholic Nobility](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-2-4-catholic-nobility.md) - 2.3 Protestantism & Puritanism - [2.3.1 Protestant Influences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-3-1-protestant-influences.md) - [2.3.2 Protestantism Under Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-3-2-protestantism-under-edward-vi.md) - [2.3.3 Protestantism Under Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/2-3-3-protestantism-under-elizabeth-i.md) ### 3 State Control & Popular Resistance - 3.1 Tudor Control of the Country - [3.1.1 Councils](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-1-councils.md) - [3.1.2 Role of Nobility](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-2-role-of-nobility.md) - [3.1.3 Justices of the Peace](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-3-justices-of-the-peace.md) - [3.1.4 Lord Lieutenant](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-1-4-lord-lieutenant.md) - 3.2 The State & the Poor - [3.2.1 Reasons for Growth of Poverty](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-2-1-reasons-for-growth-of-poverty.md) - [3.2.2 Punishments for Paupers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-2-2-punishments-for-paupers.md) - [3.2.3 Role of Charities](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-2-3-role-of-charities.md) - 3.3 Resistance to Tudor Rule - [3.3.1 Resistance to Tax & Subsidies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-1-resistance-to-tax-and-subsidies.md) - [3.3.2 Uprisings Against Henry VIII](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-2-uprisings-against-henry-viii.md) - [3.3.3 Uprisings Against Edward VI](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-3-uprisings-against-edward-vi.md) - [3.3.4 Uprisings Against Elizabeth I](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-4-uprisings-against-elizabeth-i.md) - [3.3.5 Decline of Popular Resistance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/3-3-5-decline-of-popular-resistance.md) ### 4 Economic, Social & Cultural Change - 4.1 Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade - [4.1.1 Wool & Cloth](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-1-1-wool-and-cloth.md) - [4.1.2 Exploration & Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-1-2-exploration-and-trade.md) - 4.2 Changing Structure of Society - [4.2.1 Population](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-2-1-population.md) - [4.2.2 Dissolution of Monasteries](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-2-2-dissolution-of-monasteries.md) - [4.2.3 Enclosure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-2-3-enclosure.md) - 4.3 Cultural Change - [4.3.1 Education & Literature](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-1-education-and-literature.md) - [4.3.2 Impact of Religious Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-2-impact-of-religious-change.md) - [4.3.3 Patronage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-3-patronage.md) - [4.3.4 The Arts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-4-the-arts.md) - [4.3.5 Cult of Gloriana](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/4-3-5-cult-of-gloriana.md) ### 5 Historical Interpretations - 5.1 Significance of Threats to National Security - [5.1.1 Spain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-1-1-spain.md) - [5.1.2 The Spanish Armada](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-1-2-the-spanish-armada.md) - [5.1.3 Ireland](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-1-3-ireland.md) - 5.2 Court Politics - [5.2.1 Court Factions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-2-1-court-factions.md) - [5.2.2 Essex's Rebellion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-2-2-essexs-rebellion.md) - 5.3 Elizabeth & Parliament - [5.3.1 Conflict with Parliament](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-3-1-conflict-with-parliament.md) - 5.4 Social Distress in the 1590s - [5.4.1 Social Distress in the 1590s](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/history/edexcel/5-4-1-social-distress-in-the-1590s.md)