Neptune Resigning to Britannia the Empire of the Sea (1847)
Neptune Resigning to Britannia the Empire of the Sea (1847) Painted by William Dyce.
This Fresco, commissioned by Prince Albert, confronts visitors to Osborne House when climbing the main stairs.
It is most symbolic of the dominance of the British Empire when "Brittania Ruled the Waves" and later merged into the dual Anglo-American World Power.
The scene illustrates the imminent coronation of Britannia by Mercury, who bridges the gap between land and sea -Neptune and Britannia. Britannia stands triumphant, her majesty reinforced by the figures surrounding her, their attributes signifying British industry. The female figure holds a distaff, symbolic of the textile industry and the male figure to the extreme right of the composition stands next to an anvil, representing the manufacture of iron and steel. The figure with his back to the spectator carries Mercury's caduceus, a symbol of peace, eloquence and reason, again reference to Britannia's virtues.
Britannia stands on the right side of the photograph, placing her hand on the head of a lion who stands behind her. She holds Neptune's trident, signifying the resignation of the seas to Britannia.
www.flickr.com/photos/simondownham/42845818652/in/datepos...
Neptune Resigning to Britannia the Empire of the Sea (1847)
Neptune Resigning to Britannia the Empire of the Sea (1847) Painted by William Dyce.
This Fresco, commissioned by Prince Albert, confronts visitors to Osborne House when climbing the main stairs.
It is most symbolic of the dominance of the British Empire when "Brittania Ruled the Waves" and later merged into the dual Anglo-American World Power.
The scene illustrates the imminent coronation of Britannia by Mercury, who bridges the gap between land and sea -Neptune and Britannia. Britannia stands triumphant, her majesty reinforced by the figures surrounding her, their attributes signifying British industry. The female figure holds a distaff, symbolic of the textile industry and the male figure to the extreme right of the composition stands next to an anvil, representing the manufacture of iron and steel. The figure with his back to the spectator carries Mercury's caduceus, a symbol of peace, eloquence and reason, again reference to Britannia's virtues.
Britannia stands on the right side of the photograph, placing her hand on the head of a lion who stands behind her. She holds Neptune's trident, signifying the resignation of the seas to Britannia.
www.flickr.com/photos/simondownham/42845818652/in/datepos...