One important difference between France and England under Louis XIV is the
distance from Paris of Versailles. Any entertainments at all had to be
staged locally. (In contrast, George II was a patron of opera performed at
theatres in London.)
The early 16th and 17th century masque tradition in England seems to have
been heavily grounded in native origins, although there are obvious
relationships to the court ballets in France.
The masque always was heavily dependent on a single patron being honoured -
the elaborate perspective sets of Jones worked perfectly only from one
audience location - and its continuation in France reflects a more
absolutist politics. If James II had won in 1688 it is not unlikely that
the tradition might have gained new life in England. As it was, the style
of William of Orange did not provide fruitful soil for its continuation in
England.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2017-08-04 07:11 pm (UTC)One important difference between France and England under Louis XIV is the distance from Paris of Versailles. Any entertainments at all had to be staged locally. (In contrast, George II was a patron of opera performed at theatres in London.)
The early 16th and 17th century masque tradition in England seems to have been heavily grounded in native origins, although there are obvious relationships to the court ballets in France.
The masque always was heavily dependent on a single patron being honoured - the elaborate perspective sets of Jones worked perfectly only from one audience location - and its continuation in France reflects a more absolutist politics. If James II had won in 1688 it is not unlikely that the tradition might have gained new life in England. As it was, the style of William of Orange did not provide fruitful soil for its continuation in England.