Compare and analyze the display / presentation of the British Empire in both pictures
The painting “The Secret of England’s Greatness” by Thomas Jones Barker from 1861 and the cartoon from July 1, 1997 both deal with the British Empire. However, in what way do they distinguish in representing it? The different perspectives shall be compared in the following.
In the painting from Thomas Jones Barker one can see six persons in a badly lit room. Two of them are in the foreground. On the left side there is a woman in a fancy blue-white dress with conspicuous jewellery as well as a tiara. She is holding a book in her hands. On the right side, a dark-skinned man in an African looking robe is kneeling in front of her. Another man, who is standing …show more content…
Therefore, and because of the lion head, which is a symbol for Britain, one can conclude that the woman in the foreground must be Queen Victoria since she is wearing the tiara and noble, Victorian clothes and accessories. Considering the book in her hands, the Christian Bible, and referring to the painting’s title “The Secret of England’s Greatness”, one can conclude that the reason for Britain’s wealth and success was their religion.
England was really proud of its gigantic Empire. They widened their perspective during colonialism to have more trade and to produce more goods and as a result gained power and territory. Because of their pride the English were in the opinion that their culture and religion was the best and, therefore, wanted to show it to other countries.
This is the reason why Queen Victoria, who is the Queen of Great Britain, is handing the Christian Bible to the dark-skinned man who is probably a King of an African country. The man seems to be thankful to get included into “England’s Secret”, to take the religion and culture of this “great” country - …show more content…
Since it was published in 1997, a year which is often referred to as the “end of the British Empire”, it is clear that the cartoonist is making fun of Britain’s outcome. The most representative is the lion, the national symbol of Britain, in the foreground. He symbolized that in the end Britain’s greed for power and wealth destroyed they country itself. And now after the last significant colony, Hong Kong, was given back to China there is nothing left except the crown. The cartoonist supports his opinion by putting a sun in the background. It ironically refers to the common saying that “The sun never sets on the British Empire”.
Moreover, after the First and Second World War Britain realised that it was hard to run such a large Empire. The raw-boned, plastered lion represents that Britain’s way of ruling was not healthy and rather expensive. They had to fight hard to hold the Empire together.
To conclude, one can say that the painting is obviously showing the British Empire in a positive light, while the cartoonist is making a sarcastic comment on its
The painting “The Secret of England’s Greatness” by Thomas Jones Barker from 1861 and the cartoon from July 1, 1997 both deal with the British Empire. However, in what way do they distinguish in representing it? The different perspectives shall be compared in the following.
In the painting from Thomas Jones Barker one can see six persons in a badly lit room. Two of them are in the foreground. On the left side there is a woman in a fancy blue-white dress with conspicuous jewellery as well as a tiara. She is holding a book in her hands. On the right side, a dark-skinned man in an African looking robe is kneeling in front of her. Another man, who is standing …show more content…
Therefore, and because of the lion head, which is a symbol for Britain, one can conclude that the woman in the foreground must be Queen Victoria since she is wearing the tiara and noble, Victorian clothes and accessories. Considering the book in her hands, the Christian Bible, and referring to the painting’s title “The Secret of England’s Greatness”, one can conclude that the reason for Britain’s wealth and success was their religion.
England was really proud of its gigantic Empire. They widened their perspective during colonialism to have more trade and to produce more goods and as a result gained power and territory. Because of their pride the English were in the opinion that their culture and religion was the best and, therefore, wanted to show it to other countries.
This is the reason why Queen Victoria, who is the Queen of Great Britain, is handing the Christian Bible to the dark-skinned man who is probably a King of an African country. The man seems to be thankful to get included into “England’s Secret”, to take the religion and culture of this “great” country - …show more content…
Since it was published in 1997, a year which is often referred to as the “end of the British Empire”, it is clear that the cartoonist is making fun of Britain’s outcome. The most representative is the lion, the national symbol of Britain, in the foreground. He symbolized that in the end Britain’s greed for power and wealth destroyed they country itself. And now after the last significant colony, Hong Kong, was given back to China there is nothing left except the crown. The cartoonist supports his opinion by putting a sun in the background. It ironically refers to the common saying that “The sun never sets on the British Empire”.
Moreover, after the First and Second World War Britain realised that it was hard to run such a large Empire. The raw-boned, plastered lion represents that Britain’s way of ruling was not healthy and rather expensive. They had to fight hard to hold the Empire together.
To conclude, one can say that the painting is obviously showing the British Empire in a positive light, while the cartoonist is making a sarcastic comment on its