Lanier, Emilia (1569-1645), was one of the first Englishwomen to publish a volume of original poems. Her name is also spelled Aemilia Lanyer. In 1611, Lanier published her only known book, Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum (Hail, God, King of the Jews). The title refers to the longest poem in the volume, a description of the Passion of Jesus Christ from the viewpoint of women. The last poem in the volume is one of the first country house poems in English. In a country house poem, the author compliments a wealthy patron or a friend through a description of his or her country house. Such poems were popular during the early 1600’s in England.
Some scholars have claimed that Lanier is the mysterious “dark lady” in 26 of William Shakespeare’s sonnets published in 1609. The sexually charged sonnets concerning this figure reveal a mixture of desire and disgust. The identity of the dark lady remains a matter of scholarly disagreement.
Emilia Bassano was born in London in 1569. Her father, Baptiste (or Baptista) Bassano, was a musician in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Scholars believe that around the time of her father’s death in 1576, Emilia entered the household of the Countess of Kent. There, scholars believe she received a humanistic education, which would have included the study of Latin and Greek texts.
In the late 1580’s, Emilia became the mistress of Lord Hunsdon. Hunsdon was the patron of Shakespeare’s theater company, known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and, after 1603, the King’s Men. In 1592, after becoming pregnant by Hunsdon, she married Alfonso Lanier, a court musician. No verified portrait of Emilia Lanier exists. However, she was described as having dark hair and dark skin, which is one of several reasons that a number of scholars consider her to be Shakespeare’s “dark lady.”
After Alfonso Lanier died in 1613, Emilia tried to support herself by running a school. However, the school was unsuccessful and finally closed in 1619. Little is known about her life from 1619 until her death in London in 1645.
Lanier, Emilia (1569-1645), was one of the first Englishwomen to publish a volume of original poems. Her name is also spelled Aemilia Lanyer. In 1611, Lanier published her only known book, Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum (Hail, God, King of the Jews). The title refers to the longest poem in the volume, a description of the Passion of Jesus Christ from the viewpoint of women. The last poem in the volume is one of the first country house poems in English. In a country house poem, the author compliments a wealthy patron or a friend through a description of his or her country house. Such poems were popular during the early 1600’s in England.
Some scholars have claimed that Lanier is the mysterious “dark lady” in 26 of William Shakespeare’s sonnets published in 1609. The sexually charged sonnets concerning this figure reveal a mixture of desire and disgust. The identity of the dark lady remains a matter of scholarly disagreement.
Emilia Bassano was born in London in 1569. Her father, Baptiste (or Baptista) Bassano, was a musician in the court of Queen Elizabeth IHenry VIII . Scholars believe that around the time of her father’s death in 1576, Emilia entered the household of the Countess of Kent. There, scholars believe she received a humanistic education, which would have included the study of Latin and Greek texts.
In the late 1580’s, Emilia became the mistress of Lord Hunsdon. Hunsdon was the patron of Shakespeare’s theater company, known as the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and, after 1603, the King’s Men. In 1592, after becoming pregnant by Hunsdon, she married Alfonso Lanier, a court musician. No verified portrait of the woman exists. However, she was described as having dark hair and dark skin, which is one of several reasons that a number of scholars consider her to be Shakespeare’s “dark lady.”
After Alfonso Lanier died in 1613, Emilia tried to support herself by running a school. However, the school was unsuccessful and finally closed in 1619. Little is known about her life from 1619 until her death in London in 1645.
