The Spanish Farthingale

The Spanish Farthingale was a bell-shaped hoopskirt worn under the skirts of women from 1530 to 1580. This fashion piece played a significant role in the fashion unique to Spain during the 17^th century, while other countries followed the fashion of France. The name "farthingale" itself is an English corruption of "verdugados", the Spanish word for twig, which refers to the rings of willow and cane bents used to hold the hoopskirt rigid.

The Spanish Farthingale arrived in England in the 1520s, introduced by Katharine of Aragon, Henry VIII's future queen. During the 1530s the Spanish Farthingale worn by English noblewomen began to appear in court paintings and portraits.

The silhouette of the farthingale stayed for the most part the same through the 1550s and 1560s. However, farthingales produced for the court could sometimes be larger.

Juan Ruiz de Alarcon

Juan Ruiz de Alarcon was a Mexican born Spanish playwright, considered to be one of the principle dramatists of early 17^th century Spain. He was born into a wealthy family in Mexico and traveled to Spain in 1600 to study at the University of Salamanca. After two years he graduated and pursued further study at the University of Mexico. He finally settled in Spain in 1611, where he began his hobby of writing plays, which turned into a paying career. (The monitary value was of little worth to Juan Ruiz.)

His career brought forth about 25 plays, most of which were published in two separate volumes in 1628 and 1634. His plays are known for their plot construction, ability to thrill psychologically, and moral/ethical teachings. Most of his comedies of life in Madrid centre on a defect in a person’s character: La verdad sospechosa (“The Suspicious Truth”) is a study of inveterate lying; Las paredes oyen (“The Walls Have Ears”) concerns slander; La prueba de las promesas (“The Proof of the Promises”) is an attack on ingratitude; Mudarse por mejorarse (“To Change Oneself to Improve Oneself”) inveighs against the fickleness of lovers.

It is also important to note Ruiz de Alarcon was a hunchback, which may have influenced his writing. He also received ridicule from his fellow dramatists/competion for it.

Women in Early Europe

It was common practice for women to attend the playhouse productions during the 1600's in early England. It was a highly popular place where women would be go to be seen as well as be a spectator. It is important to note there was skepticism in having women on stage at the present time, and so the large population of spectators were women. Also the rights of women or lack of were much different than they are now. Women were basically at the command of their husbands. So when watching the show, keep this is mind when you see the male/female bantering that carries out. An interesting fact also is the donations of finances by women of the time to the theatre arts.

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