JOHN WHITE: IMAGE OF ANCIENT INHABITANTS OF BRITAIN
The article considers the drawing Pictish Warrior by John White, an English artist of the XVI century, representing a native of ancient Britain. The drawing reflected contemporary ideas on national self-identification, belonging to the supporters of two different views on the British past. Supporters of the first view based their opinion mainly on the medieval History of Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth, in which such legendary leaders, as King Arthur and Brennius, were represented as the founders of empires and rivals of Ancient Rome. The second view on the British past was presented by historians of the so-called School of antiquaries who proceeded mainly from the analysis of historical antique texts and the remained ancient monuments. The analysis of the image created by John White shows that the drawing has been executed primarily under the influence of the School of antiquaries. However, White also paid attention to the views of the medieval version supporters, trying to glorify his image and establish close connection between it and the images of Ancient Rome.
Keywords: Renaissance culture, John White, Geoffrey of Monmouth, William Camden, Roman Britain
References:
Camden 1637 – Camden W. Britain, or a chorographicall description of the most flourishing kingdoms, England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the ilands adjoining, out of the depth of antiquitie beautified with mappes of the severall shires of England: written first in Latine by William Camden Clarenceux K. of A. Translated newly into English by Philemon Holland Doctour in Physick: finally, revised, amended, and enlarged with sundry additions by the said author. London, 1637.
Fields 2006 – Fields N. Headhunters of the Roman Army. Minerva. 2006. November / December. P. 10–12.
Fletcher 2010 – Fletcher J. Bonduca. Boudica: Historical Commentaries, Poetry, and Plays. Ed. by Aleks Matza. New York, 2010. P. 187–372.
Geoffrey 1984 – Geoffrey of Monmouth. The History of the Kings of Britain. Life of Merlin. Transl. into Russian. Moscow, 1984.
Hariot 2003 – Hariot T. A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land Of Virginia. New York, 1871. Electronic edition 2003.Herodians 1996 – Herodians. The history of the imperial power after Marcus. Transl. into Russian. Moscow, 1996.
Mottram 2008 – Mottram S. J. Empire and Nation in Early English Renaissance Literature. D. S. Brewer, 2008.
Palmer 2015 – Palmer P. The Severed Head and the Grafted Tongue. Literature, Translation and Violence in Early Modern Ireland. Cambridge, 2015.
Ross 2005 – Ross A. Everyday life of the pagan celts. Transl. into Russian. Moscow, 2005.
Shakespeare 1949 – Shakespeare W. Cimbeline. Complete set of works. Transl. into Russian. Vol. 7. Moscow, 1949.
Smiles 2009 – Smiles S. John White and British Antiquity: Savage Origins in the Context of Tudor Historiogrpahy. European Visions: American Voices, British Museum Research Publication. 172. Ed. by Kim Sloan. London, 2009. P. 106–112.
Springer 2010 – Springer C. Armour and Masculinity in the Italian Renaissance. Toronto, 2010.
Stuart and oth. 1998 – Stuart W., Pyhrr S. W. and Godoy A. J. Heroic Armor of the Italian Renaissance: Filippo Negroli and His Contemporaries. New York, 1998.
( 3.53 MB ) 
( 3.51 MB )
Issue: 2, 2016
Series of issue: Issue 2
Rubric: ARTICLES
Pages: 71 — 81
Downloads: 894