Images of the Renaissance
During the flowering of the Renaissance under the Tudors in the 16th Century, the stimulation and developments of artistic, leisurely pursuits constituted an important genre of development, certainly for the wealthy and well to do. The art of the manège, that of riding horses for pleasure and display, was very popular. The early riding manuals were translated from Italian and French into English, and their pinnacle in England was the works of William Cavendish in the 17th Century.
Practical demonstrations of historical riding from the early modern period are exciting and captivating for all ranges of audiences, and I can provide ridden demonstrations blended with narrative that makes the display relevant and accessible to the viewer. Sources used can where practical be specific to a location, and where possible connected with local history.
Interaction and the opportunity for engagement are often an important part of the display, as although utilising a predefined display is captivating and informative, it often raises questions in the minds of the assembled viewers. By allowing the audience to participate through a Q&A session at the end, these questions are explored and the engagement significantly enhanced. This is usually a very popular part of the show.
To find out more how a display of this nature could bring alive cultural history for your group or site, please feel free to contact me to discuss.
The following articles may be of interest on this topic: