Artwork
IV. The Oba's Palace
IV. The Oba's Palace is a print by Tony Phillips. It dates from 1984 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The title of this print is IV. The Oba's Palace, created by Tony Phillips in 1984.
This work is part of a series of etchings reflecting on a difficult period in British history. The series, History of the Benin Bronzes, responds to the British raid on Benin City in 1897.
To learn more about the context of this print, look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
Phillips uses the medium of etching to reconstruct the palace interior before its destruction, inviting reflection on colonial violence and cultural erasure.
Tony Phillips created IV. The Oba's Palace in 1984 as the fourth plate in his twelve-part etching series, History of the Benin Bronzes. The work responds to the 1897 British punitive expedition against Benin City, which resulted in the looting of royal artifacts. Phillips uses the medium of etching to reconstruct the palace interior before its destruction, inviting reflection on colonial violence and cultural erasure.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts the opulent interior of the Oba’s palace, populated by court figures and adorned with brass plaques—objects later seized by British forces. Rather than illustrating the raid itself, Phillips focuses on the world that was lost, countering colonial narratives that dismissed Benin as primitive. The scene becomes a quiet act of reclamation, asserting the dignity and complexity of a society targeted by imperial aggression.
Technique & Style
Phillips employed fine-line etching to render intricate details of architectural ornamentation and human figures, echoing the precision of the original Benin plaques. The composition is densely layered, with shadow and texture suggesting depth and grandeur. The monochromatic palette evokes historical documentation, while the meticulous craftsmanship mirrors the skill of the Benin artisans whose work was plundered.
History & Provenance
The etching responds to the 1897 British raid, during which thousands of brass and ivory objects were taken from Benin’s royal court and distributed across European museums. Phillips’ series emerged decades later as part of a growing effort to confront Britain’s colonial past. The work does not claim ownership of the artifacts but seeks to restore their cultural context, drawing attention to their displacement and the silence surrounding it.
Context
In the late 19th century, British media justified the raid by portraying the Oba and his court as barbaric, despite evidence of Benin’s advanced metallurgy and governance. Phillips’ series emerged during a period of renewed scholarly and public interest in colonial restitution. His work challenges the myth of civilizing missions by centering the sophistication of the society that produced the looted objects.
Legacy
IV. The Oba's Palace contributes to ongoing dialogues about cultural restitution and the ethics of museum collections. By visually reconstructing the palace before its destruction, Phillips offers a counter-narrative to colonial archives. The print remains a quiet but powerful testament to the enduring presence of Benin’s artistic heritage, even as its physical objects remain scattered across the globe.
Artist & collection
Artist
Tony Phillips made a series of twelve prints in 1984 that blend symbols and everyday scenes.
