Artwork
III. Shrine of Sacrifice
III. Shrine of Sacrifice is a print by Tony Phillips. It dates from 1984 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. III.
About this work
This print shows a scene called III. Shrine of Sacrifice. It’s part of a twelve-plate set Tony Phillips made in 1984.
Phillips looked back at Britain’s 1897 raid on Benin City. The British press lied to justify it, calling the Oba and his people “savages.” But the art they stole proved Benin was advanced.
Next time you’re in London, check out the real plates at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
III. Shrine of Sacrifice is an etching from Tony Phillips' 1984 series, History of the Benin Bronzes, which reflects on the 1897 British punitive raid on Benin City. This third plate in a twelve-part set depicts a scene of disruption and looting.
Subject & Meaning
The print critiques British justifications for the raid, which stereotyped the Oba and his people as 'savages' practicing human sacrifice. Phillips' work contrasts this narrative with evidence of Benin's sophistication, symbolized by the bronze figure and sculpted head amidst the shrine's disruption.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching, the piece leverages the medium's expressive potential to convey the somber, reflective tone of the series. Phillips' composition balances figural and spatial elements to emphasize the shrine's desecration.
History & Provenance
Created in 1984, the etching is part of a suite responding to the historical legacy of the Benin raid. Original examples from the series, including this plate, are housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Context
The work is situated within a broader artistic and historical context of revisiting colonial injustices. Phillips' series contributes to a critical reevaluation of the Benin Expedition's impact and the misrepresentation of Benin's cultural achievements.
Artist & collection
Artist
Tony Phillips made a series of twelve prints in 1984 that blend symbols and everyday scenes.
