Dr Dee In The Elizabethan Era

This is an oil painting on lime wood made by Hans Baldung Grien. It is called Three Ages of the Woman and the Death. It was held in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna between the years of 1509-1510. The oil painting is 48.2 by 32.5 centimeters. It is an exceptional representation of the stages of women throughout the years & death. The artist sees the world through a veil in which he expresses through his symbolic artwork.

The wall painting features Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, sitting surrounded on both sides by two monks -standing immediately to the left and right, slightly to the back-, the ruling king and queen -sitting and in elaborate headdresses and robes, further left and right-, the crown prince and princess -standing between their parents and Maitreya-, and many other disciples and bodhisattvas -doing

The medicinal practices and problems of the Elizabethan Era were very important to the people, although they are very different from those of today. There were many different beliefs and diseases, like the Plague. Medicine was not an exact science and was related to Alchemy (Chemistry). Here, some of the many practices and beliefs of the Elizabethan Era will be discussed.

“The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic, or hospital.” (Mark Hyman). In the Elizabethan Era, most of society was poverty-stricken, which drove communities to improvise to help the sick as real doctors and physicians were too expensive. Barbers and wise women rose to the occasion of helping the sick, although they did not have much medical knowledge. Medical knowledge was also lacked in professional doctors and physicians as their knowledge revolved around their religion, leaving the sick in the mercy of misconceptions. During the 16th century, society suffered from lack of medical knowledge and ignorance to the benefit of sanitation, resulting in misconceptions of faulty doctors that brought expansion of diseases and death.

Did you know there was a time where infectious diseases like the common cold could kill you and your family? This was the elizabethan era probably the last time where sickness became the “grimm reaper” before modern medical advancements. With infectious diseases spreading and killing so many people doctors became desperate. Because these doctors knew very little about medicine, they were completely willing to try experimental treatments on their patients (Alchin). Sadly just about anybody with an infectious disease died. All the knowledge these doctors knew were based on: Humours, what brain function each internal organ controls, and how to protect themselves from it.

In this day and age, there are millions of pharmaceuticals out there for all kinds of diseases and conditions, but where did all of this start? The creation of medicines most likely started when people discovered the healing properties plants contained. Today, mankind has the knowledge and technology to extract elements from plants to produce more chemically engineered medicines. The real question is how did medicines develop from mashing up leaves in order to lessen an infuriating rash to just popping a pill to nurse or illness? Medicines evolved by the scientific method: series of research and experiments. During the Elizabethan era, research and experimentation attained a renewed interest.

In the Elizabethan era, medicine was incredibly simple and led to the death of millions.

In this day and age, there are millions of pharmaceuticals out there for all kinds of diseases and conditions, but where did all of this start? The creation of medicines most likely started when people discovered the healing properties plants contained. Today, civilization has the knowledge and technology to extract elements from plants to produce more chemically engineered medicines. The real question is how did medicines develop from mashing up leaves in order to lessen an infuriating rash to just popping a pill to nurse or illness? Medicines evolved by the scientific method: series of research and experiments. During the Elizabethan era, research and experimentation attained a renewed interest.

Alchin, Linda. “Elizabethan Medicine and Illnesses. ” Elizabethan Medicine and Illnesses. Web. 04 Apr. 2016

In Elizabethan times many deadly diseases had spread such as the plague, smallpox and typhoid, but the causes and cures had yet to be discovered. Due to bad hygiene because of open sewers and rubbish dumped in the river, this caused disease to easily spread as it was a natural habitat for rats, fleas and lice. The plague was carried by the fleas living in the fur of rats. As a result of this one third of the population died. Elizabethan physicians believed that medicine was basic, they had no idea why and how people were getting so sick, treatments were based from superstitions and guesses so they used a mixture of herbs for cures and also believed leeches would ‘suck

Because of all the little knowledge in the Elizabethan Era, daily lives were impacted, people turned to unusual medical theories which also impacted their everyday lives, and turning points in medicine occur. A small degree was known about how to treat serious diseases. People turned to different ways to cure themselves based on the kind of sickness they had acquired. It was very difficult to diagnose those diseases that were severe and in result of that numerous people died at youthful ages.

There’s only one figure in this painting and it’s a lady sitting on her chair crossed legged at the left side near the door, she is the main subject matter. There is half painted window on the right side; the window has red Curtin’s. Secondary colours and a bit of primary have been used, the wall of the house is mixed colours greyish and pinkish, the door is blue, and the boxes one is red and the other green.

The artwork being analyzed is called Nameless and Friendless and it was completed in 1857 by Emily Mary Osborn. The artwork was most likely created in England, where she was from. The media is oil paints on canvas, rather than the wood that was usually used. It is currently on display in Tate, Britain.

Because of all the little knowledge in the Elizabethan Era, daily lives were impacted, people turned to unusual medical theories which also impacted their everyday lives, and turning points in medicine occur. Little was known about how to treat serious diseases. People turned to different ways to cure themselves based on the kind of sickness they had acquired.

During the 1500s, one woman prevailed in a society dominated by males. Queen Elizabeth I of England served for forty-four stable and prosperous years. She claimed the throne in 1558 and reigned until her death in 1603. Because of her strong leadership, this time period was known as England’s Golden Age or Elizabethan Era. Queen Elizabeth’s accomplishments were possible because of her educational background, Protestant upbringing, and unmarried status.