Week 2 - The Stuarts

By the start of Charles I’s reign in 1625, however, the Stuart dynasty seemed more secure and there was less need to follow previous styles. The stiff and constricting shapes of the Tudor era gave way to softer lines. Charles I short in stature and manipulated portraiture prospective or siting on horses to exaggerate his presence.

I think the triptych portrait of 'Charles I in Three Positions' by Antony van Dyck (above) best represents this monarch. In which he appears very Christ like and the three heads could be read as referencing the trinity and certainly express his deeply held belief in the divine right of kings. There is something quite powerful about just a head and shoulder portrait and the multi angles give almost a 3D image, as well as enabling the artist to give an extra layer of detail to the fabrics of the clothes he is wearing.

The painting on the right is thought to be the first depiction of Charles II in his new style of court dress. He is being presented with a pineapple, a new fruit for 17th-century Britain, c1675‒80.

After restoration, plague and the great fire of London, the second half of the 17th century saw many significant events that affected royal and wider fashion. By very end of the century ‒ after regicide, restoration and a further revolution ‒ we start to see fashions and styles that will come to dominate the next century: the mantua and the three piece suit.

Masques were elaborate performances involving music, dance and verse with luxurious costumes and spectacular scenery, popular in the Stuart Court.

Below is a modern day costume I created based on the fashion of the Stuart period.