Artwork
View in the East Nave (Godfrey of Bouillon, by Simonis)
View in the East Nave (Godfrey of Bouillon, by Simonis) is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist John Absolon. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This watercolour depicts a scene from the Great Exhibition of 1851, held in London's Hyde Park.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour depicts a scene from the Great Exhibition of 1851, held in London's Hyde Park. The artwork is part of a series reproduced in 'Recollections of the Great Exhibition', a souvenir guide from the event.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a plaster statue of Godfrey of Bouillon by Eugène Simonis, centrepiece of the Belgian display in the East Nave. Smaller marble sculptures by Simonis, including 'The Happy Child', are at the statue's base.
History & Provenance
The Great Exhibition's profits funded initiatives in South Kensington, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, established in part through these funds.
Context
The 1851 exhibition featured over 13,000 exhibits and attracted six million visitors, a third of Great Britain's population at the time.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Absolon was a British watercolourist, specialising in figure painting. He studied in London and then Paris.
Church Furniture
View in the East Nave (The Amazon, by Kiss)
Part of the Chine Court
Part of the Fine Arts Court
View in the West Nave
Part of the French Court, no. 1 (Sevres)
The Indian Court and Elephant Trappings
The Indian Court and Jewels
Gems of the Great Exhibition, No. 2.
Part of the Russian Court
The Turkish Court