Can't find the answer to this anywhere else on the internet. What would the relationship between a maid and their mistress/master be like in the 17th century? Would the maid be highly involved in the family life or not take part in it?
2006-11-29 08:38:50 · 2 answers · asked by Elizabeth P 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
It sounds like a serious question so I will give it a serious answer.
The family maid, as depicted here in a famous painting,
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Kitchen-Maid-Posters_i142991_.htm
would have not been part of the family. As a domestic she would have been housed separately, to the point of using a separate set of stairs and doors, and would be more of a servant than anything else.
If the family was well off they would have had maids of various stripes, including chambermaids, downstairs/upstairs maids and even borderline nannies of today.
2006-11-29 14:19:00 · answer #1 · answered by Sir J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She should be on her back on the bed.(The 17th Century was a time of little imagination) Her master should be astride or atop her. She most certainly WOULD be highly involved in the family (wink wink) life.
2006-11-29 16:49:55 · answer #2 · answered by JIMBO 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋