The Faerie Queene · Chapter
Sonnet XVII explained
The poet compares himself to the Chian painter who, when tasked with painting Venus in her perfect hue, requested to view all the fairest maidens.
What happens
The poet compares himself to the Chian painter who, when tasked with painting Venus in her perfect hue, requested to view all the fairest maidens. Similarly, the poet seeks to draw the true semblance of beauty's queen by observing the many beauties of the court, from each stealing some part of ornament. He finds no fairer crew than that brave court, where the world's pride seems gathered, and asks forgiveness for his cunning theft, since the ladies have lost nothing.
Key passages
“The Chian Peinter, when he was requirde To pourtraift Venus in her perfect hew, To make his worke more absolute, desird Of all the fairest Maides to have the vew.”
The painter from Chios, when asked to paint Venus in her perfect form, wanted to see all the most beautiful maidens to make his work more complete.
The poet invokes the classical anecdote of the painter Zeuxis (often called the Chian painter) who combined features of multiple models to create an ideal image of Helen or Venus.
“If all the world to seeke I overwent, A fairer crew yet no where could I see Then that brave court doth to mine eie present; That the worlds pride seemes gathered there to bee.”
Even if I searched the entire world, I could find no fairer group than the one this splendid court shows my eyes; it seems the world's pride is gathered there.
The poet praises the ladies of the court as the ultimate collection of beauty, surpassing any other in the world.
“Of each a part I stole by cunning thefte: Forgive it me, faire Dames, sith lesse ye have not lefte.”
I stole a part from each of you by cunning theft: forgive me, fair ladies, since you have lost nothing.
The poet confesses to taking beauty from each lady to compose his ideal image, but assures them they remain as beautiful as before.