- Museum number
- 1906,0719.11.8
- Title
-
Object: The Garden of Plenty
-
Series: Arches of Triumph
- Description
-
Temporary triumphal arch erected for the procession of James I in 1604; at top, three domes covered in plants and flowers; upper centre, panel depicting two seated female figures, one holding a wand, the other a cornucopia; along left and right two representations of the muses, one with musical instruments, the other with shields depicting their attributes; in an arched niche in the centre, two crowned figures holding aloft a globe; bottom centre, a staircase between two gardens, with Pan at its foot, and two satyrs ahead of him; fruit within the two main arches; one of seven illustrations to Stephen Harrison's 'Archs of Triumph' (1604).
Engraving
- Production date
- 1604 (1613 re-issue)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 305 millimetres
-
Width: 234 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- The complete series is 1906,0719.11(1-8). For a general comment on the series, see 1880,1113.5776.
The letterpress text accompanying the plate in the 1604 edition is:
'THE fift Pegme was a sommer Arbor, and seemed to growe close to the little Condut in Cheape, which oyning to the backe of it, serued (or might bee supposed to haue bene) as a Fountaine to water the fruits of this Garden of Plenty.
This greene bower spread it selfe likewise (as all the rest did) ouer the whole breadth of the street; hauing two Gates arched and grated Arbor-wise, to the height of---feete, and breadth of---: the sides of which gates were borne vp with foure great French termes, standing vpon Pedestals, which conteined in their full height---foote. Betweene these open Passages were a paire of stires mounted, at the bottome of which (on two pillers) were fixed two Satyres, carued out in wood. Both the rooe and sides of these Gates, were Artificially hung with Pompions, Cowcumbers, Grapes, Cherries, Peares, Apples, and all other fruits, which the land bringeth foorth. The vpper part also (which was closed with three round tops, Fortune standing on the midst of the three) was garnished with lesser fruits, and with all sorts of Flowers, made by Art.
The whole Frame of this sommer house, stood (at the Ground-line) vppon---foote, the Perpendicular, stretching it selfe to---.
Peace and Plentie had the highest places in this Bower, and sate to gether: directly vnder them, sate two other persons, representing Gold and Siluer, supporting the Globe of the world betweene them: On each side of them sate two other persons, the one Pomona, Goddesse of Fruits, the other Ceres, Goddesse of Corne.
Vpon two large Descents (a little belowe these) were placed at one ende the nine Muses, at the other end the seuen liberall Sciences.
Syluanus, and his followers, (who vpon sight of his Maiestie, played vpon Cornets) gaue entertainement to his Maiesti, in these speeches following.'
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
- Associated Event: Entry of James I into London 15 March 1604
- Associated titles
Associated Title: Archs of Triumph
- Acquisition date
- 1906
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1906,0719.11.8