Oliver Cromwell
Cromwell was not a hero, but he is known for his religious fanaticism and his influence that changed England from industrial and artistic growth to stagnation.
Charles I, the King and Cromwell’s adversary, was tried and executed in 1649. The English civil war was a time of great destruction of ecclesiastical and private property that was followed by the Protectorate under Cromwell.
The trial of Charles I on 4 January 1649.
Art had been associated with corruption, immorality, and inefficiency. A ban was placed on everything that had any appeal to the senses during Cromwell’s rule 1649-1660.
In 1660 the monarchy was restored, and Charles II was called to the throne. Charles and Louis XIV of France were cousins. Charles loved the dreamy, romantic styles of the French King—in his reaction to the repressed and subdued spirit that had prevailed during Cromwell’s Puritan Protectorate, he endeavored to imitate the lavishness and extravagances of the French court.
Bakery–A Twenty-First Century replacement
The Great Fire of London began on the night of September 2, 1666, as a small fire on Pudding Lane, in the bakeshop of Thomas Farynor, baker to King Charles II. At one o’clock in the morning, a servant woke to find the house aflame, and the baker and his family escaped, but a fear-struck maid perished in the blaze.
Great Fire of London 1666
Detail of the Great Fire of London by an unknown painter, depicting the fire as it would have appeared on the evening of Tuesday, 4 September 1666 from a boat in the vicinity of Tower Wharf. The Tower of London is on the right and London Bridge on the left, with St. Paul’s Cathedral in the distance, surrounded by the tallest flames.
Advertisement for a comparatively small and manoeuvrable seventeenth-century fire engine on wheels: “These Engines, (which are the best) to quench great Fire; are made by John Keeling in Black Fryers (after many years’ Experience).”
This disastrous fire that destroyed most of London gave impetus to the construction of new homes, public buildings and churches. Sir Christopher Wren, architect, as the leading influence, designed St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
St Pauls London
Wren was strongly influenced by Palladio, the Italian architect. Palladio’s work was strongly based on the symmetry, perspective and values of the formal classical temple architecture of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Charles II supported the art industries, as well as French and Flemish craftsmen.
Canopied bed designed by Daniel Marot
Daniel Marot, French architect, came to England upon the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Issued on 13 April 1598, by Henry IV of France, it granted the Calvinist Protestants of France (also known as Huguenots) substantial rights in a nation still considered essentially Catholic.
It’s told that 40,000 French weavers came to England at that time.
Do you know any other great occurrences that came from fires?
To be continued . . .
State bed engraving designed by Daniel Marot for Louis XIV of France
He did lamb mutton sleeves and added slits to them for a very contemporary, modern look
I learn so much from your posts, Gail! I’ve learned to love history as an adult, but I’m afraid my education was sorely lacking growing up. I know very little about European history, so your posts are fascinating to me. Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge. As far as fires and the good that can come from them, the big San Francisco fire in the early 1900’s gave rise to many of the wonderful buildings and sites around that city. My son lives nearby and I can’t wait to go back again to introduce my husband to the sea lions on the wharf:-)
Thank Paula, you are always right there with your responses. Fires remind me of the old adage, ‘out of something bad, comes something good.’ Fires give the forests opportunity for new growth and replenishment. New cities are grown from the fire destruction. Chicago’s city, and Louis Sullivan’s architecture, grew out of fire. You are so right about that. And those sea lions are wonderful to watch. I don’t know about them on the wharf where I would be standing, but I do know about the sea lions basking on the rock that can be seen from the wharf. Weren’t you there recently?
Down at Fishermen’s Wharf in San Francisco bay, there is a large dock out in the water where the sea lions vi for position to put on a show for the tourists. They’re hysterical to watch as one will push the others into the water to claim the limelight. They even pile on top of each other to ensure the best exposure. It’s quite an entertaining sight.
I have been many times over the last hmm, many years. I thought you meant they were on the wharf. It is fun to watch them, but I never thought of them performing. Remembering their antics, guess you’re right about their playfulness. Thanks again Paula.