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3:59 am
December 8, 2009
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I don't know if any of the UK members have been watching this fascinating series on sunday evenings (7p.m, BBC 2), but next sunday's episode is covering the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. The series is primarily about art and culture so not just the monarchs etc, but its sell worth tuning in to, and next weeks episode will be of particular interest to people here.
Be daly prove you shalle me fynde,nTo be to you bothe lovyng and kynde,
5:08 am
February 16, 2009
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I missed the first one so I'm going to catch up with it on iplayer but I saw Sunday's episode and thought it was fantastic. Wasn't the Medieval crown which had belonged to Anne of Bohemia (Richard II's wife) beautiful and the Bury Bible with all of its colourful illustrations – gorgeous!
The frustration I felt when Dimbleby was at Canterbury Cathedral looking at the candle on the floor that marked the spot where Thomas Becket's huge and beautiful tomb/shrine had once stood before Henry VIII had torn it down – grrrrr! The Dissolution of the Monasteries was responsible for so much beauty and history being destroyed!
I also enjoyed the bit where Dimbleby was looking at The Wilton Diptych where Richard II is depicted being handed the standard of England by the Virgin Mary and Christ Child. It really made me understand how monarchs strongly believed in their divine right to rule and that they had been chosen and appointed by God. It makes you understand why Elizabeth I found it so hard to execute Mary Queen of Scots.
Sorry to ramble!!
Anyway, those of you outside the UK if you have access to a server in the UK or a proxy server service (like foxyproxy) can catch up with the series on BBC iPlayer and also there is a book available.
Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn
7:07 am
December 8, 2009
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That crown is absolutely beautiful. Thank god something survived the Civil War!
I guess it is a shame that the shrines, such as Becket's, had to be destroyed. But I can undrestand that those shrines were a powerful symbol of Papal authority in England, and as such they had to go. England needed a clean break with Rome. Its like Hussien's statue being torn down after the fall of his regime in Iraq. All that powerful symbollism has to be washed away for people to be truly free of it.
Be daly prove you shalle me fynde,nTo be to you bothe lovyng and kynde,
11:16 am
February 16, 2009
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Very true but it's a shame from an artistic/historical point of view. I can definitely understand, being a bit of a puritan and someone who is not into icons etc. but it's so sad that the Dissolution and the Civil War destroyed so many works of art and the crown jewels of course!
Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn
11:09 am
February 10, 2010
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That crown, oh, that crown! The Beeb has a very good line in selling programmes to other countries so if you see it on a network, watch! I think Sunday's episode is how the Tudors used art for propaganda purposes – Ives' commentary on Anne's coronation is example of this, although I doubt it will feature in the programme. Little wonder Elizabeth was a past master of the art with Henry and Anne for parents!
Louise
