English Renaissance Period - Essay Example

English Renaissance Period The Renaissance that began in Italy eventually did spread and cover most important parts of Europe within itself. In this, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and England were by any means no exception. Although England is found to come under its influence in the Late Renaissance Period, yet it completely adorned itself with all the progressive aspects of reformation. The Renaissance in England is more (factually) believed to have a cultural and artistic characteristic than a political change, dated between 16th and 17th century when Queen Elizabeth I took the authority. A major theme of Renaissance in England was a transition from purely religious ways of life (even in architecture and art) to a more secular mode of living, which included a shift from the way people idealised various things and concepts to a different outlook. The Church was no longer being considered a source of instruction in political, religious, social and individual matters. Rather, dissolution of power was taking place while the Church remained a religious identity while the power to deal with matters of law and government were vested with the (oft secular) political government. Hence, while there was a less opportunity to progress and open up to different varied disciplines while the Church was in power, people could focus on the development of culture and art during and after the Renaissance period. This is the reason why much emphasis is paid and research effort given to the cultural and art development during this period and there is much less focus on the political change. There was also an element of foreign ideas’ mixture into the concepts and ideas that were gaining popularity in England which eventually gave rise to a whole Renaissance theme containing a blend of traditional and modern ideas (The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia). In the words of Oscar Wilde: “I call it our English Renaissance as it is certainly a type of new beginning of the character of man, like the great Italian Renaissance of the 1500s, in its wish for a more affable and comely approach of life, its obsession for physical beauty, its elite notice to shape, its seeking for new subjects for poetry, new intellectual, new forms of art, and imaginative enjoyments: and I call it our romantic association since it is our most current appearance of beauty. We describe it as a mere restoration of Greek modes of thinking, and again as a mere recovery of mediaeval feeling. Rather I would say that to these forms of the human spirit it has added anything of artistic value the complexity and density and knowledge of modern life can give: taking from the one its clearness of vision and its sustained calm, from the other its diversity of expression and the obscurity of its vision. For what, as Goethe said, is the study of the ancients but a return to the real world (for that is what they did); and what, said Mazzini, is mediaevalism but individuality?” (Wilde). English Renaissance Art The phenomenon known as “English Renaissance of Art” is what Oscar Wilde describes as a “revival of Greek modes of thought” (Wilde). The Art of English Renaissance is closely related to the English Architecture developed during that time, as promoted by Henry VIII in royal buildings in early 16th century (Howarth). The buildings contained patterns which became a distinctive art of the region. However, the art developed as a complete field. Following the Renaissance in Italy and other parts of Europe, England did acquire their influence when foreign artists came into this area and worked with the royal people. Hence, the artists – talented of an international stature in the royal avenue – rapidly gained popularity and were liked and appreciated by all. These arts composed of paintings, decorations and sculpture. However, not much development was experienced specifically in England beyond the royal limits. The Renaissance art usually developed and is a special feature of the Renaissance in Italy, Germany, Spain and France, which is why this developments came to England much later and it is said (and often criticised) to have received and adapted the reforms in the Late Renaissance Period. In this way, art never became a distinctive feature in English period of Renaissance, although many of its buildings and architecture contained several remarkable artistic features having influences from different regions of Europe where the art was flourishing during the Renaissance. English Renaissance Architecture With every progress development that came with Renaissance in England, people were in no way less aware of the importance of a better and beautiful architectural display. Some of it had been inherited by them in the form of cathedrals and other major buildings, which had been built until Henry VIII took over the monasteries and stopped the building of more churches. However, Renaissance gave the people a new direction to think what was unconventional at that time – emphasis on individual building architecture. This idea came with the change that was already taking place, that is, awareness among the people to groom themselves towards a better and refined lifestyle. A desire to live in better constructed houses came with this theme. Hence, two forms of architecture came about: building the dwelling unit and the emergence of individual architecture (Marx). The new architecture closely resembled what we see in our individual constructions now, as opposed to old manor houses which were more or less fortresses, built with defense perspectives. However, this view changed and the houses were being planned to suit more comfortably to a family with inclusions of dining rooms, a TV-lounge styled hall, which no longer used to be a center of every important task or gathering for the family etc. The grand Elizabethan houses were actually large houses or castles, which were artistically built and well reflected their purposes and taste. All the later constructions of manor houses were similar – three to four storey buildings, large furniture and furnished substantially. People enjoyed living in such houses to a great extent, held parties and huge social gatherings. All this became a part of the new lifestyle that Renaissance brought with itself (Fletcher). English Renaissance Literature For the English literature, the period of Renaissance was a time of boom, consisting of major developments. Hence the name “the Age of Shakespeare” is completely just while giving this period one literature-friendly name. Names such as William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, John Milton, Sir Thomas Moore and Christopher Marlowe all emerged during this time. Among these, William Shakespeare is distinctive to have served as a playwright, poet and to introduce sonnet to English literature. English literature relates to the literature produced during the era of Queen Elizabeth I, who herself also wrote notable poems. It started off with the establishment of a printing press by William Caxton in England in the year 1476 allowed the vernacular literature to flourish by reaching the masses, which enabled the common people to indulge into this field. It started off with the easy-to-understand translations of Bible. The writings, drama and poetry written by the literary persons of that time reflected the various characteristics of the Renaissance period. Now only fiction, but it served well the function of “literary criticism” with themes such as cultural reformation, political/colonial criticism etc. (Baker and Maley). This remarkable and progressively modern work took off the field of English literature to new heights, and is still popular and read worldwide for the works of the same era. The Renaissance English literature is found to be a mix of modern and certain “seemingly strange” concepts, with a revival of English drama and playwriting (English Department, Brooklyn College). The various dramas reflected various characteristics like politics, religion, science, human philosophy and classic antiquity. The poetry was used for music in songs. This aspect of English Renaissance has been discussed in the proceeding sections. English Renaissance Music Renaissance music in England developed with the progress of English literature and an overall air of reformation prevalent in that era. However, the development of music in England was less than in other parts of Europe (primarily in Italy), and reached here in the Late Renaissance Period during the 16th century. The school here is known as English Madrigal School, whose compositions were usually light styled. The three kinds of Madrigals included: The Madrigal Proper (word-painting music, thoroughly composed), The Ballett (chordal music, often accompanied with a dance) and The Ayre (it is performed by singing in various ways) (GCSE Music Notes). The English music in Renaissance also saw the inception of consorts, where a number of instruments were used in combination for a performance. Two forms of consorts were introduced, whole and broken consorts consisting of the instruments of the same and different families respectively. The Elizabethan Keyboard Music also gained popularity, where a popular instrument was the virginal (GCSE Music Notes). With the growing interest of English people in music, a collection of Italian madrigals were published in 1588 but Nicholas Yonge in the book Musica Transalpina. Famous English composers include Thomas Tallis, John Merbecke, Edmund Hooper, John Milton, John Hilton, Robert Johnson and John Jenkins. Conclusion A complete revival of European way of living as Renaissance was indeed, there are certain other aspects of it as well. England is most widely criticised to have received the reform effects, which came in the period we know as “Renaissance”. It is undoubtedly agreed upon that Italy, France, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands and other neighbouring parts of Europe were the major areas where Renaissance had its effects and where the major developments took place. However, we cannot say that England was completely deprived of the capability to have adorned the characteristics of what is said to be modern and reformed towards the better. The revolution in architectural techniques, the development in literature of which the Shakespearean age is the biggest example and progress of music were all distinctive to this region. Art received somewhat less progress in England. However, English people did not limit themselves to their geographical boundaries. Rather, they adapted the progress and reforms which were prevalent and gaining rapid popularity in their neighbouring regions (all over Europe). Hence, what we see depicted in the English outlook after the Renaissance period to the modern era is a blend of domestic and foreign developments, resulting from cross boundary exchange of ideas and themes. Another way to look at this is the way how different countries specialised in their Renaissance products or themes; if Italy specialised in Art, Spain in Architecture, France in Music, England can be justly said to have specialised in Literature in the Renaissance period. The products of Shakespearean Age are read and appreciated all over the world even to this day and age and none other could deny their contributions to Literature in the world or even take precedence on them in this field. Works Cited Baker, David J. and Willy Maley. British Identities and English Renaissance Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. English Department, Brooklyn College. Introduction to the Renaissance. 30 March 2009. 10 February 2011 . Fletcher, Banister. History of Architecture on the Comparative Method. London: Batsford, 2001. GCSE Music Notes. Renaissance Music (1450-1600). 14 January 2010. 10 February 2011 . Howarth, David. Images of Rule: Art and Politics in the English Renaissance. California: University of California Press, 1997. Marx, Milton. "Architecture and the English Renaissance." The Sewanee Review, Vol. 34, No. 2 (Apr., 1926): 143-155. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. The Renaissance. 2007. 2010 February 11 . Wilde, Oscar. The English Renaissance of Art. 1908. 11 February 2011 . Read More