Detail of Second Globe Theatre and Bear Garden, "Long View of London from Bankside"

Detail of Second Globe Theatre and Bear Garden, "Long View of London from Bankside"

Globe Theatre (London, England: 1599-1644)

England--Social life and customs--16th century

Theater--England--History--17th century

Image Description: This detailed view depicts two key Bankside (i.e., located along the south bank of the Thames River) entertainment options for Elizabethan audiences: the second Globe Theater and the nearby Bear-baiting Arena. Across the Thames River are several other notable London landmarks, including Blackfriars, the Essex and Arundel houses, and Convent Garden.

Scholarly significance: The structural similarities between the Bankside theater and bear-baiting arena are significant. The first purpose-built playhouses in Elizabethan London were modeled on preexisting animal baiting arenas (bull and bear), and the two forms of entertainment were in fierce competition with one another. A 1591 law actually mandated the closing of public theaters on Thursdays, to protect the economic interests of animal baiting promoters. One of the later purpose-built playhouses, the Hope, was a hybrid arena that hosted plays on some nights and animal baiting shows on others. Not surprisingly, given the competing interests, the venture proved unsuccessful.

Hollar, Wenceslaus, 1607-1677

Wikimedia Commons

1647

EMBTA does not hold the copyright for this item, which is already made freely available online. EMBTA cannot grant reproduction rights for this image. If you are interested in reproducing this image, please contact the copyright holder named in the “Source” field above.

PNG