Artifact of Empire - 1830s

Artifact: Oil Painting. Creator: Alexander Rippingille. Made in Bristol, Britain. 1834. Found on ArtStor.org

URL: http://0-library.artstor.org.helin.uri.edu/library/welcome.html#3%7Csearch%7C1%7Crippingille%7CMultiple20Collection20Search%7C%7C%7Ctype3D3126kw3Drippingille26id3Dall26name3DAll20Collections26origKW3D

From: Image of the Black in Western Art: Harvard University

What is it?

My artifact is an oil painting that was made to commemorate and comment on the emancipation of slaves in the colonies of the British Empire. The Act for the Abolition of Slavery was given Royal Assent on August 1^st 1833. The painting, made circa 1834, shows a black slave family burying their shackles and holding up their arms in a gesture of gratitude. It is a one of a kind, unique painting made from oils on a canvas. The painting, entitled: To the Friends of Negro Emancipation, is an homage, and congratulatory work, for those who were part of the fight to push through the Act of Emancipation in 1833, and all the years in its prelude. The title might refer to those white Europeans who fought for the slaves, but the image itself is a congratulations to the blacks who were able, from then on, to cast off their shackles and never submit to white oppression again. Rippingille must have felt some sympathy for the slaves, otherwise, would he have painted such an image?

Context

Apart from India, whose laws fell under the ruling of the East India Company, the British colonies were to release all slaves and indentured servants from holding. This image of celebration captures a historic and politically charged event. The white slaver and slave owner lost a considerable amount of stock, in terms of produce, work force, investment and of course, money. The white man, in the colonies, would probably not have been happy at the emancipation of his slaves. Abolitionism was more of a domestic triumph of human rights and morals.

The industrial revolution, that began in Britain around 1750, provided an exponential increase in wealth, productivity, power and influence for the country. The British Empire had already existed for over a hundred years, the East India Company having established roots in India in the mid-1600s, but colonization of most of the Empire happened in the 1700s and 1800s. To further their goals of domination and wealth, the British established a slave trade to rival that of the Arabs (who dominated the east coast of Africa). Such slaves were captured on the West African coast, stowed on slave ships and delivered to colonies in the West Indies and the 13 American Colonies in exchange for financial and exotic produce including Tabaco and sugar cane.

In 1807, the Slave Trade was abolished. Slaves were no longer being taken from Africa by British ships. By 1823, the first Anti-Slavery Association was formed for the sole purpose of releasing all colony and motherland slaves from bondage.

In 1833, the emancipation bill was passed. In 1834, all slaves were totally freed from ownership, white or otherwise.

How does it relate to what we’ve read in class?

The book was published in 1847, a full 14 years after emancipation, but no direct mention of slavery occurs in Jane Eyre.. However, the character of Bertha Mason does give some insight into how people of color were portrayed in that time. Bertha is described as being a big woman, having a purple face, bloated features, thick and shaggy hair, swelled lips and wild stares. Almost as if to describe an animal (pg. 381). A creole is a derogatory term for a white-black hybrid, typically from a male plantation or slave owner and a female slave. Known as the outcast race, a creole is white enough to be accepted into British society but black enough to be treated with contempt as soon as they return home. “If they are sent to England to be educated, they are treated as gentlemen, and admitted into the best society; but when they return to the West Indies, they also return to their former position of compulsory debasement.” (Line 28-31 A View of West Indian society article) Bertha, whose mother was a creole, is at most ¾ white and a second generation creole. Yet, if she is described in such a way by a character like Jane Eyre, who is shown to be kind, learned and accepting, the colored person must have still been seen as animalistic and less than human (something which is clearly seen in the Herge comics of Tintin, even in the 1930s (100 years after emancipation)).

The black person, or former slave, remains in a down cast light even after s/he is freed.

Scarf from Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee

Artifact: Commemorative Scarf from Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
Date: 1897
Producer: Unknown
Material: White china silk

                                   

What is it?

The artifact I chose is a scarf made in 1897 that was intended to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The manufacturer of the artifact is unknown but the scarf is made from white china silk. The center of the scarf depicts three images of Queen Victoria. One portrait is from the beginning of her reign, one is from the middle, and one is from the time of the Jubilee. There is script above and below these images. The top portion reads “Her Gracious Majesty Victoria” and the portion below reads, “Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India”. Along the border of the scarf are the names of the 24 countries that were members of the British Empire at the time. A particular focus is given to India, England, Scotland, and Ireland as these countries make up the corners and are particularly embellished with decorative coats of arms.

Context

The Diamond Jubilee was an event celebrated not just in England, but internationally as well. It took place on June 22, 1897 and was a 6-mile procession through the streets of London featuring 17 carriages and representatives from all of Victoria’s dominion countries. Particularly prominent were the Indian cavalry that escorted Victoria’s carriage. In short, the event was a blatant display of imperialism, as Victoria literally paraded her colonies around London in an attempt to show her people, and the rest of the world, how strong the British Empire actually was.

            The images presented on the scarf symbolically reflect these ideas of imperialism and British power. Victoria herself serves as the focal point of the scarf, indicating that she remains the most important part of the empire. In addition, laurel wreaths surround her images and she is depicted wearing crowns and jewelry, reflecting the Empire’s wealth and prosperity. In contrast, the colonies are shown on the outer borders of the scarf, indicating that they are of lesser importance than England. It is also interesting to note which countries were positioned in the corners of the scarf. Scotland, England, Ireland, and India were given special attention and the designs for these countries are especially ornate. It’s possible that these countries were seen as the most relevant and important colonies to England. Scotland and Ireland are close to England geographically and have long histories with England so it makes sense that the English would see them as important. India, however, was a fairly recent acquisition, Victoria was crowned Empress of India in 1877, but it was still seen as important enough to take up a corner of the scarf. This is because India was seen as the “jewel in the crown” and was highly valued by England for the resources it provided. Interestingly, one of the most valued resources extracted from India was silk, since India had access to silk from China. Ironically, this scarf is made from silk that was probably from India. So this scarf, which portrays the imperialistic relationship between England and India, is made from a resource received directly from that imperialism.

            By creating this scarf and then selling it as a souvenir, the manufacturer effectively trivializes the important issues associated with imperialism. England was proud of their colonies and viewed them as possessions, ignoring the harmful effects that their influence had on the colonies. The English were so proud of their vast empire that they purchased and wore a scarf that bragged about their colonial acquisitions.

Relation to Text

In a general sense, the ideas of imperialism represented in the scarf relate to the themes of imperialism that are present in all of the texts we’ve read in the course. Specifically, it connects with The Moonstone, as that novel criticizes the imperialistic relationship between England and India. In the novel, most of the story takes place in England, which reaffirms the assertion on the scarf that England is the central and most important part of the empire. There could also be a connection between the actual Moonstone, which is a cursed Indian jewel, and the idea that India was considered “the jewel in the crown”. In The Moonstone, the jewel is extremely important and valued in India for its religious importance. However, when the English take it, it becomes cursed and is the center of a crime scene. Perhaps Collins is playing with the metaphor of India being a jewel but is suggesting a darker relationship between the two countries. While Collins criticizes the imperial relationship between England and India, the scarf does the opposite.

            I also see a relationship between the ideas presented in the scarf and the philosophy of Herbert Spencer. Spencer argued that it was natural for societies to grow more complex and advanced with time. He writes, “The orderly progress from simplicity to complexity, displayed by bodies-politic in common with living bodies, is a characteristic which distinguishes living bodies from the inanimate bodies amid which they move” (Spencer 9).  He claims it is “orderly” for societies to become more complex. He later distinguishes between savage and civilized societies, arguing that civilized societies continue to grow, “In complexity, our large civilized nations as much exceed primitive savage tribes” (Spencer 9). The imagery on the scarf seems to agree with this idea. Spencer’s theory somewhat justifies the ideas of imperialism. It is likely that the British saw their massive and always expanding empire as natural and even a sign of civilization. If they believed this, then it would have been easy to justify wearing a scarf that blatantly promoted imperialism.

Artifact Link: http://0-library.artstor.org.helin.uri.edu/library/welcome.html#3%7Csearch%7C6%7CAll20Collections3A20victoria20diamond20jubilee%7CFiltered20Search%7C%7C%7Ctype3D3626kw3Dvictoria20diamond20jubilee7Call26geoIds3D26clsIds3D26collTypes3D26id3Dall26bDate3D26eDate3D26dExact3D26prGeoId3D26origKW3Dvictoria20diamond20jubilee7Call