Blog Post Number 5

1.  This is Jennet Parkinson, Wife of Cuthbert Hesketh of Whitehill, Lancashire painted by George Gower.  This was painted in 1580 using oil on a panel: 23 13/16 x 20 3/8 inches.

2.  This painting was created in 1580 in England.

3.  This is just a portrait created by George Gower, nothing needed to be depicted, it is just a portrait of Jennet Parkinson to show her beauty.

4.  For this painting, Mrs. Parkinson came and sat down in front of Gower while he painted her.  He painted her as she was sitting, showing light and shadows with different shades of the oil paint.

5.  This work conveys a social values of a wealthy person.  We are able to tell that the woman is wealthy by the dress that she chooses to wear with the neck garment and hat.  This is traditionally what rich women wore when they were going to a ball or having a portrait done.  It was also very common for wealthy people to get portraits made of themselves.  Based on this picture and little background knowledge we are able to understand her social class and type of lifestyle. This piece of art has no different value from when it was created, except now it is a piece of history.  We still can see that this was the way women with wealth dressed in the 16th century.  It does not cause me to re-consider the meaning of the art or its value.  This work doesn't really hold as much value in today's society, except for the family down the line from Jennet Parkinson.  The title of this work does not signify anything important in its self.  It is just giving the name of the woman whose portrait this is.  No more value of understanding is found from this picture.  However,  it does give  us insight into the way that society was in the 16th century and the way that people in the upper class acted and dressed.