hardwick hall Flashcards
what are the main factors
- rise of gentry
- new fashions and building techniques
- changing times
- wealth, status, legacy
intro:
Hardwick Hall was built between 1590 and 1597, by Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury. I believe that although X as well as Y are important factors, it is not as important as CHANGING TIMES.
rise of the gentry factor paragraph:
Hardwick Hall represents social change, through the rise of the gentry. Elizabeth was born in 1527 to the lower gentry, and when her father died she was left £26 and only a few hundred acres of land to her name. However, through her 4 marriages to her husbands, she was able to acquire her wealth. When she died in 1608 she was one of the richest women in England- only second to the Queen. She owned estates in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Devon and Cornwall. As well, Hardwick Hall was commonly referred to as ‘more glass than wall’ due to the large amount of glasswork, most of which came from her glassworks in Wingfield. The glass also gets bigger the higher up you go in the building, which reflects the social hierarchy at the time (The Great Chain of Being). Other gentry acquired their wealth through exploration, trade or the dissolution of the monasteries (by Queen Elizabeth I’s father, Henry VIII). They had money but no class, and so built prodigy houses just like Hardwick Hall in order to cement the popular idea of achieving social status and legacy.
new fashions and building techniques factor paragraph:
Hardwick Hall also represents new fashions and building techniques. The architecture was heavily inspired by Italian Renaissance, which focused on symmetry and order from every aspect of the house. Hardwick Hall follows this by containing internal chimney flues in order to not ruin the symmetrical silhouette. It also contained a loggia, which was commonly seen in Florence. This was mainly used for indoor exercise and as a viewpoint to see the well manicured gardens. Furthermore, Bess only visited court occasionally after 1568, so relied on others to report back and inform her on the changing fashions and designs. This caused her to be more practical too, as everyday furniture was often made with onsite materials. As well, due to technological advancements, the production of lead increased: by 1600, the lead smelters in Derbyshire were producing 10 times more lead than they were 30 years ago. This resulted in an emerging popularity in double piles.
changing times factor paragraph:
Another factor was changing times. Before 1580 staircases had to be built around a central column, rather than a single flight of stairs. Yet, now Hardwick Hall was able to have a large grand stone staircase that led all the way to the most prestigious rooms at the top of the house. There was also a significant change from the Medieval times, as houses no longer had to be defensive and be built like castles with moats. Instead, they were now able to be beautiful, comfortable and lived in stately homes. They also did not have to be built around a central courtyard as they now focused outward and not inward, meaning they were able to show symmetry on the outside. This is mirrored in the gardens as they became larger and closer to the home for pleasure and relaxation (instead of hunting). They were set up in symmetrical pattern with squares or quarters of varying sizes with an ornamental pond.
wealth, status and legacy factor paragraph:
Hardwick hall demonstrates wealth, status and legacy of the owners. Bess had approximately 97 paintings of herself, the Queen, Virgin Mary and William Cecil which would have been expensive, that also helped to send a message or illustrate important ideas. The approach to Hardwick Hall was also designed to impress, by coming in and out of view on the way in. She used heraldry in the low status rooms, but in the high status rooms (where people would have been educated like herself) she used sophisticated ideas with imagery relating to classical literature and mythology. These rooms would also be furnished, with the intent to impress visitors Bess’s status and wealth. This can be emphasised by the fact she had a collection of richly decorated Turkish carpets. Furthermore, she had Flemish inspired crests that enclosed her initials (E.S) on every tower. This shows a need to prove social standing and establishing a name for oneself. Finally, from 1570 to the end of the 1620s, a gallery should measure at least 100 feet long- Hardwick Hall had a long gallery that was the whole length of the house on the East side on the second floor. It was mainly used as an indoor space to exercise, but was also a place where she could hang her tapestries and paintings, and show off her impressive views of the garden and house.
link new designs, rise of gentry and changing times together (example conclusion)
Therefore, I believe that changing times was the main change showed by stately homes as it facilitated everything else. New designs and building techniques allowed the changes to take place, but they were driven by changes in the social structure and particularly the rise of the gentry. This change in status caused their desire to demonstrate their new standing and secure their legacy through building prodigy houses. However, neither of these changes would have come about without the shift from defensive castles to stately homes, and so changing times were the most important. Peacetime meant that culture and art flourished, which allowed ideas such as symmetry being introduced through the Renaissance, and the owners to show it.
link changing times to social change (rise of the gentry):
Yet, without changing times (through a shift from defensive castles to stately homes), the gentry would not have been able to display their newfound wealth through their architecture and reinforce their social status. Therefore, the gentry’s rise would not have been as visually impactful.
link changing times to new fashions and building techniques:
Yet, the move away from defensive structures enabled this adoption of Renaissance-inspired architecture, including symmetry and decorative elements, which were previously impractical in fortified homes.
link changing times to wealth, status and legacy:
However through the transition to stately homes, individuals like Bess were able to showcase their wealth through art, tapestries and glasswork, emphasising their social position in a way that castles never could.
