Document Type
Article
Media Type
Text
Abstract
From the fifteenth- to eighteenth-centuries, artists across Europe and England painted a scene depicting the negotiation of a marriage contract. In nearly every painting, a notary sits or stands at a table, quill in hand, memorializing the details of the dowry transfer. Some artists celebrated the accord, while others condemned arranged marriages made for purposes of status and money. Interestingly, at the same time the artists painted, massive changes occurred in the law and political philosophy aimed at changing some of the inherent problems in marriage law, such as the rights of women, the influence of parents, and divorce. To what extent does art reflect and influence the law? The study of art and law is a nascent yet vibrant discipline. By exploring the historical and legal context of art, we gain a better understanding of how the populace interpreted and followed the law, as well as how artists tried to influence the development of social norms. In the context of marriage contracts, this historical research is timely given the current debate over same sex marriage. Much has been made of the history and origin of marriage by both sides in the same sex marriage controversy. The analysis of these paintings yields some clues in how Western culture conceived of marriage during a time of massive social and legal change.
First Page
45
Last Page
108
Publication Date
11-1-2009
Department
Other
ISSN
0734-1490
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University Law Review
Recommended Citation
Templin, Benjamin A.
(2009)
"The Marriage Contract in Fine Art,"
Northern Illinois University Law Review: Vol. 30:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Suggested Citation
Benjamin A. Templin, The Marriage Contract in Fine Art, 30 N. Ill. U. L. Rev. 45 (2009).
