Hardwick Hall Flashcards
What steps should you follow when writing a Hardrick Hall question
THE 5 W’s
Who -> Who was the Bess of Hardwick
What -> What was Hardwick like
Where -> Where was Hardwick Hall
When -> When was it built
Why -> why was it built
Answer a question using the 5 W’s
Who - The Bess of Hardwick was the richest woman in England after Queen Elizebeth
What -> Hardwick hall was more glass than wall
Where -> Hardwick hall was built in Derbyshire
When -> it was built between 1590-1597
Why -> It was built in the new Renaissance style to show off the wealth of its owner
How did the Bess attain her wealth
Bess of Hardwick became one of the richest woman in England after 4 marriages. Her fourth marrige moved her into the Nobility class.
What is the legacy of Hardwick Hall in the context of Elizabethan England?
Many great houses like Hardwick hall were built during the reign of Elizabeth. These homes would not only show the wealth of its owner, but also demonstrate that the inhabitants were cultured, fashionable people
Bess of Hardwicks marrige history
- (1527) Born into gentry class
- (1543) Bess marries Robert Barlow who dies within a year. Leaving her £66
- (1547) Bess married Sir William Cavendish a key figure in Henry VIII court. When he died in 1557, Bess became very wealthy
- (1559) Bess’s third husband was Sir William St Loe who was a favourite of the Queen. When he died in 1565, Bess inherited his fortune
-(1567) Bess married the Earl of Shrewsbury and became part of the nobility. He inherited a large amount of money including Agricultural land, Coal mines and Glassworks, iron foundries and ships.
Who was Bess of Hardwick, and what was her significance in the Elizabethan era?
Bess of Hardwick (1527–1608) was one of the wealthiest women in Elizabethan England. She built Hardwick Hall as a symbol of her wealth and status. Through her marriages to wealthy men, she inherited vast estates, which made her powerful in both social and political circles. Bess was influential at the royal court and played a key role in the care of Mary, Queen of Scots. Her life and legacy highlighted the rising power of women in the Elizabethan gentry.
What was Hardwick Hall like
- Designed by Robert Smythson, his focus was on how the house looked and its comfort rather than the security of its owner
- Traditional medieval hall replaced with Great chamber as main room. Place were guest received and had images of Queen Elizebeth. Well, known for work at Longleat House in Wiltshire and brought skilled craftspeople.
-Number of rooms (46) showed wealth of owner, rooms accessed by a great staircase. and had light from windows
Bess employed a plasterer and French painter who were all influenced by Italian Renaissance designs - Large Glass windows had lattice frames (could not make large pieces of glass)
- Straight chimneys reflected Classical designs (hidden inside to keep house symetrical)
- Big E S at top to show her initials and her importance
Who designed Hardwick Hall
Designed by Robert Smythson, his focus was on how the house looked and its comfort rather than the security of its owner
Give some features of Hardwick Hall
(WHAT)
Loggia - or open walkway at front was inspired by Italian Renaissance Architecture
- Did not follow previous practices of being built around a central courtyard.
- Had four sides demonstrating Elizabethan desire for order symmetry, balance and order
- The long gallery, longest in England at 50m It was a place for entertaining guest and winter exercise
- Had broad lead roofs gently sloping, which came from Bess’s own foundries
- Rooms on 3 floors showed social hierarchy (great chain of beings)
-97 paintings (67 potraits)
- Tapestries followed hierarchy, with those containing silk or metal thread where displayed in rooms of higher status, lower rooms had coarser wool tapestries
Where is Hardwick Hall
Near Chesterfield near Derbyshire
After her 4th husband died, she began to build Hardwick Hall next to her old Hardwick Hall where she had been born.
Had many natural assets
When was Hardwick hall built
Took 13 years to construct and finished in 1590.
Began building after the death of her 4th husband
Why was Hardwick Hall bult
Hardwick Hall was built primarily by Bess of Hardwick to showcase her wealth, power, and status in Elizabethan society. The reasons for its construction include:
Shows concerns of order and symmetry E shape
House built in order and is a model of what Elizabethans though order of the universe should be.
(More windows/ detail at top than bottom)
Many great houses built int Elizabeths I reign, she was inspired by some aspects of current court trends but showed of her own sophistication by filling it with tich visual and intellectual decorative scheme
