17thB-Visual+Art+and+Music

=Visual Art and Music (1600-1660)=

Visual Arts and Architecture
Largely due to Queen Elizabeth I's love of arts, the majority of visual arts flourished under her rule (which lasted only until 1603). Painting was dominated by portraiture and miniature paintings, while elaborate textiles and embroidery prevailed in the decorative arts and sculpture found its place within architectural decoration. Artists of the Tudor Court brought new styles with them to England, especially the Flemish and Italian Renaissance styles. Religious art had lost virtually all of its momentum, and portraiture of the elite class had started its spread to the upper-middle classes. An artificial and decorative style became characteristic of Elizabethan visual art. The most notable aspect of British Renaissance visual arts is the portrait miniature. A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolour, or enamel. Portrait miniatures began to become popular in 16th century Europe but really started to flourish in 17th century England. They were especially useful for introducing people to each other over distances or remembering loved ones, similar to the modern pocketable photographs of today.





The British Rennaisance is far more commonly known, however, for its lasting contributions to English architecture rather than painting. The Tudor and Elizabethan styles of architecture became icons of this era and were characterized by their dark geomeric simplicity. Other notable trends in architecture were the less common Late Perpendicular style, Jacobean style, and Palladian style. Inigo Jones ( 1573 – 1652 ) was widely regarded as the first significant modertn British architect. Among his contributions to Renaissance art are his introduction of Italianate Renaissance architecture to England and his many valuable contributions to stage design.

Music
Music was an essential part of civic, religious, and courtly life in the British Renaissance. Factors such as the rich interchange of ideas in Europe and the political and religious events between 1500 and 1700 led to the creation of new genres of music, the development of additional instruments, the transformation in styles of composing, and new methods of disseminating music. The most significant purpose of music was its creation for the church. By the end of the British Renaissance, however, music's influence had spread to many other areas, including to amateurs, the middle class, and music printing. Notable British composers during the Renaissance were John Traverner, who was regarded as the most important English composer in his area, Thomas Tallis, who occupies a primary place in antologies of English church music, and William Byrd**,** who who cultivated many of the forms current in England at the time.

Unifying Principles
The arts flourished during the English Renaissance. Religious art was influential during the beginning of this period. However, it had virtually ceased for the majority of it towards the end. The most important defining aspect of visual art and music in the British Renaissance was that both forms of art had begun to become accessible to a wider audience. They were no longer just for the elite, but began trickling down the social system to the middle classes.


 * RC Abbasi**