>>> Christopher Stetson 1/9/2010 10:26 AM >>> Hi, Naomi,
I see. I'm not sure why Munrow lists her as dying in 1586, probably just a mistake. I also realize that all my theorizing about what the instrument "means" in the portrait is based on the assumption that it was her choice to have it. It's possible, of course, that the artist just gave it to her and said, "hold this", or even that (s)he put it in after (what I assume was) a posing session. But did these even take place with aristocratic subjects? And as you say, it may even be Jones's "engine" itself! There are a couple more responses which I'll fwd. Fun stuff! Have a good weekend, Chris. PS, I got my lute tuned up yesterday. I'm thinking a visit might happen sooner if I could bring it to you. Let me know what you think. C. >>> Naomi Miller 1/9/2010 9:58 AM >>> Hi, Chris - This stuff is GREAT! Thank you so very much - and DON'T STOP! I'm deeply grateful for your expertise . . . Lady Mary Wroth was born Mary Sidney in 1586, so that was her real name until she married Robert Wroth in 1603, so in fact the portrait is correctly identified as of the time it was possibly painted. It's not clear whether it was painted before her marriage or after, so that leaves open the possibility that the Inigo Jones introduction of the theorbo to England occurred just at the time that the portrait was painted, and possibly, because they were certainly acquaintances given that she danced in the MASQUE OF BLACKNESS in 1605, what is named as an "archlute" in the portrait is actually the very theorbo that Inigo Jones brought . . . I look forward to hearing if you're able to reach your "theorboed" friends! Best, Naomi >>> Christopher Stetson 1/8/2010 9:09 PM >>> Hi, Naomi, Sorry to bombard you with emails, just tell me to stop if needed. However, I found the Inigo Jones reference, quoted in David Munrow, Instruments of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, OUP, 1976: "...the account of the seventeen-century Dr. Plume...'Inigo Jones first brought the theorbo into England c. ann. 1605. At Dover it was thought some engine brought from Popish countries to destroy the King, and he and it sent up to Council Table.'" Munrow gives his source as "Dr. Plume's Library, Malden, Essex, pocket book No. 25", and credits the mid-20th century lute specialist Robert Spencer with digging up this tidbit. Munrow then goes on to comment on your portrait of LMW, which is misidentified(?) as "Lady Mary Sidney (d. 1586)" as evidence that Inigo Jones wasn't bringing the first theorbo to England, though if he's mistaken about the identity, and therefore date, of the portrait... I'll try to get in touch with theorboed friends tomorrow. Chris. -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
