The Joyful Stage: Chandler’s Dancers Celebrate Shakespeare in Stratford
We are thrilled to note that Jacob Chandler’s captivating series depicting the joyous energy of the As You Like It dancers, commissioned by the Ashton family and Soulton Hall, has found a distinguished platform at Lambert Fine Art in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Stratford: Childhood and Teenage Home of William Shakespeare
It’s a particularly resonant setting for this artwork, deeply inspired as it is by Shakespeare’s beloved play about harmony.
The connections between Soulton Hall and William Shakespeare are rich and fascinating: Shakespeare’s own family ties reach Soulton through his mother, Mary Arden, a cousin of Old Sir Rowland Hill – a figure who was then memorably woven into the fabric of As You Like It.
Jacob Chandler with his ‘As YOu Like It’ Dancers artwork which features in the 2024 Shrewsbury Arts Trail
Furthermore, the creative link is undeniable: the source text for As You Like It, the enchanting romance Rosalynde (1590), sprang from the youthful imagination of a boy, Thomas Lodge Jr., whose formative years are forever tied at Soulton, and who, as a man, was a colleague of Shakespeare’s.
Intriguingly, the essence of the play’s harmonious conclusion, the beguiling dance is recorded within the Soulton estate itself.
Records in the Soulton papers document such celebratory dances, and the famous dancing pavement at Soulton stands as a physicak link to this tradition of communal joy and social harmony social contracts — which is the major theme As You Like It.
Marginalia in by Hannah Deakin in the 1830s Soulton Day Book; in the 1840s this was book used to design the Soulton Dancing Pavement.
This confluence of artistic inspiration, familial and literary ties, and historical resonance makes the showing of Chandler’s work in Stratford, Shakespeare’s birthplace, a truly delightful encounter.
The Soulton Dancing Pavement, showing The Dance, which features in AS YOU LIKE IT
It is a vibrant intersection of contemporary art and ancient heritage, a modern interpretation finding its voice in the very heart of Shakespeare’s legacy, expertly presented by Lambert Fine Art.
Lambert Fine Art’s discerning eye and commitment to connecting clients with exceptional and heartfelt art, provides the perfect Stratford environment for these pieces.
The current exhibition of Jacob Chandler’s dynamic As You Like It dancers beautifully exemplifies Lambert Fine Art’s dedication to showing compelling artwork with rich narratives.
These pieces, born from the ancient artistic story of Soulton Hall, capture the vibrant spirit of Shakespeare’s comedy, creating a wonderful link between regional history, literary heritage, and contemporary artistic talent.
Jacob Chandler’s AS YOU LIKE IT show in the Moot Hall, Soulton Court
If you are in Stratford-upon-Avon, a visit to Lambert Fine Art promises an enriching experience. Discover the passion and expertise that define this gallery and allow yourself to be enchanted by the debut of Jacob Chandler’s As You Like It dancers – a vibrant celebration of art, theatre, and the enduring legacy that intertwines Soulton Hall and Shakespeare’s birthplace.
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