European Imperialism Art (Please try to stay awake. Also, please don’t groan at my bad jokes)

Before we start… flash-cards/ flash-cards/ flash-cards/ flash-cards/

Plaque, Mid- 16 th -17 th century Benin Kingdom Court Style Benin Kingdom Court Style Edo, Nigeria Edo, Nigeria Copper Alloy Copper Alloy

Timelines! Everyone loves Timelines! The Benin Kingdom lies to the south of Sierra Leone in Nigeria. The region contains the Edo people. The Benin Kingdom lies to the south of Sierra Leone in Nigeria. The region contains the Edo people. 900 C.E.: kingdom founded and ruled by Ogiso 900 C.E.: kingdom founded and ruled by Ogiso Late 13 th – early 14 th c.: became great political state Late 13 th – early 14 th c.: became great political state Late 14th century: Yoruban prince, Oranmiyan, founded the second dynasty and the reign of the Oba Late 14th century: Yoruban prince, Oranmiyan, founded the second dynasty and the reign of the Oba 1484: Portuguese arrived to find the large ‘‘Beny Kingdom,’’ expanding through warfare 1484: Portuguese arrived to find the large ‘‘Beny Kingdom,’’ expanding through warfare Late 15 th century: Oba Ewuare expanded the Oba’s palace Late 15 th century: Oba Ewuare expanded the Oba’s palace 16th century: HEIGHT OF POWER! (insert Shaq reference here) 16th century: HEIGHT OF POWER! (insert Shaq reference here) 19th century: after decline, resurgence due to control of palm oil 19th century: after decline, resurgence due to control of palm oil 1897: Benin Punitive Expedition 1897: Benin Punitive Expedition

So what WAS the Benin Punitive Expedition? Great Britain wished to control the Benin Kingdom and its palm oil Great Britain wished to control the Benin Kingdom and its palm oil In February 1897, Rear Admiral Harry Rawson led an attack on Benin City In February 1897, Rear Admiral Harry Rawson led an attack on Benin City The expedition looted the palace, set homes on fire, destroyed the city, took art, and exiled the Oba. The expedition looted the palace, set homes on fire, destroyed the city, took art, and exiled the Oba. Nice going, Imperialists. Way to mindlessly kill everyone. Again. Nice going, Imperialists. Way to mindlessly kill everyone. Again.

Afterwards… Art sent to museums, largest collection by Brit Museum in London and Ethnological Museum in Berlin  Debate to return art to Nigeria Art sent to museums, largest collection by Brit Museum in London and Ethnological Museum in Berlin  Debate to return art to Nigeria Affirmative: Since the objects were stolen, they should return to their rightful home. Affirmative: Since the objects were stolen, they should return to their rightful home. Rebuttal: European museums (see first bullet) can preserve the artworks better than any other location. Rebuttal: European museums (see first bullet) can preserve the artworks better than any other location.

DESIGN Central figure Central figure Oba or a high ranking warrior Oba or a high ranking warrior Wears a sword, headress, shield, and headdress Wears a sword, headress, shield, and headdress Page Page to the main figure's right to the main figure's right Holds a ceremonial sword Holds a ceremonial sword Two Musicians Two Musicians To either side of the page and the central figure To either side of the page and the central figure Two Portuguese Two Portuguese Top left and right corners In profile Top left and right corners In profile

DESIGN PART 2 THE PORTUGUESE THE PORTUGUESE Extensive trade  Benin Kingdom valued Portuguese merchants  indicated by their presence on Plaque Extensive trade  Benin Kingdom valued Portuguese merchants  indicated by their presence on Plaque Trade with the Portuguese provided the copper to make this piece and the wealth to support such art Trade with the Portuguese provided the copper to make this piece and the wealth to support such art The Portuguese came from across the water, the fabled land of death The Portuguese came from across the water, the fabled land of death The Edo associated them with the intermediate realm between life/death and Olokun The Edo associated them with the intermediate realm between life/death and Olokun The god of the waters, Olokun, is represented by crocodiles and mudfish The god of the waters, Olokun, is represented by crocodiles and mudfish TL;DR- Portuguese are awesome according to the plaque TL;DR- Portuguese are awesome according to the plaque

Method The importance of figures in Plaque is indicated by amount of regalia, detail, size, and degree of relief The importance of figures in Plaque is indicated by amount of regalia, detail, size, and degree of relief Central figure projects the most from the surface and with the greatest detail. Also stands the tallest and wears full regalia Central figure projects the most from the surface and with the greatest detail. Also stands the tallest and wears full regalia

Creation Artist used lost wax casting Artist used lost wax casting STEP 1: form fullscale model from hard yet pliable wax STEP 1: form fullscale model from hard yet pliable wax STEP 2: use model to create mold STEP 2: use model to create mold STEP 3: use mold to cast final work in a copper alloy STEP 3: use mold to cast final work in a copper alloy

RANDOM FACT TIEM :0 One thousand very similar plaques exist, including one at the National Museum of African Art. One thousand very similar plaques exist, including one at the National Museum of African Art. Most Benin plaques are made of either bronze or brass. Most Benin plaques are made of either bronze or brass. The difference? Bronze contains tin while Brass contains zinc. The difference? Bronze contains tin while Brass contains zinc.

PURPOSE (?) Art historians do not know the original purpose of the Benin plaques Art historians do not know the original purpose of the Benin plaques When British arrived, plaques were in storage When British arrived, plaques were in storage Scholars first believed that they display specific historical or ceremonial events Scholars first believed that they display specific historical or ceremonial events Paula Ben-Amos, professor of anthropology and African studies, DISAGREES Paula Ben-Amos, professor of anthropology and African studies, DISAGREES “Very few of them now appear to us to convey narratives.” “Very few of them now appear to us to convey narratives.”

TL;DR- AKA: I didn’t pay attention during the powerpoint

St. George’s Cathedral by Arthur Blomfield Georgeto wn, Guyana, 1894 Georgeto wn, Guyana, 1894 Wood Wood

ARTHUR BLOMFIELD ( ) LIFE Arthur Blomfield was a renowned English architect and member of the Royal Institute of British Architects Arthur Blomfield was a renowned English architect and member of the Royal Institute of British Architects Father was a Bishop of the Church of England Father was a Bishop of the Church of EnglandEDUCATION Rugby School Rugby School Trinity College at Cambridge Trinity College at Cambridge Apprentice to architect Philip Charles Hardwick Apprentice to architect Philip Charles Hardwick WORK WORK Best known: College of Music in London (1882) Best known: College of Music in London (1882) Gothic revival churches: St. Andrew’s Church in Surbiton, England (1872) Gothic revival churches: St. Andrew’s Church in Surbiton, England (1872) In 1891, received the Royal Gold Medal of the Royal In 1891, received the Royal Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects in recognition of his work Institute of British Architects in recognition of his work

DESIGN OF ST. GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL Basic design One of tallest wooden churches on Earth One of tallest wooden churches on Earth at 143 feet tall at 143 feet tall Latin cross with a central tower Latin cross with a central tower Gothic influences Pointed arches, flying buttresses, large windows with stained glass and Biblical scenes Pointed arches, flying buttresses, large windows with stained glass and Biblical scenes add a sense of lightness and height add a sense of lightness and height In order to match the style of the area, Arthur Blomfield constructed the cathedral out of local timber and painted the building white In order to match the style of the area, Arthur Blomfield constructed the cathedral out of local timber and painted the building white

ST. GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL (1894) History GEORGETOWN, GUYANA Originally, the Arawak and Carib lived on N coast of South America Originally, the Arawak and Carib lived on N coast of South America The Dutch arrived in the 17th and 18th century, Europeans argued over the territory, and the British named the colony British Guiana in 1814 The Dutch arrived in the 17th and 18th century, Europeans argued over the territory, and the British named the colony British Guiana in 1814 In 1834, the colony adjusted from slave labor to immigrant labor and in 1966, gained independence and became Guyana In 1834, the colony adjusted from slave labor to immigrant labor and in 1966, gained independence and became Guyana The city, Georgetown, was founded 18th century at the mouth of the Demerara River. The city, Georgetown, was founded 18th century at the mouth of the Demerara River. TOO MANY NAMES FOR GEORGETOWN WHY ARE THERE SO MANY NAMES AHHHHHHH Stabroek (Dutch) Stabroek (Dutch) Longchamps (French) Longchamps (French) Georgetown (British) Georgetown (British) The British named the city in 1812 after King George III. The British named the city in 1812 after King George III.

GEORGETOWN TODAY Guyana’s most populous city Guyana’s most populous city The city holds the central government and serves as the commercial center The city holds the central government and serves as the commercial center The city is a mix of Dutch, French, British, and African people, plus a mix of immigrant workers The city is a mix of Dutch, French, British, and African people, plus a mix of immigrant workers The dominant religion is Great Britain’s official state religion, the Anglican Church The dominant religion is Great Britain’s official state religion, the Anglican Church (Hinduism and Islam are also present) (Hinduism and Islam are also present)

Going To The Chapel~ Despite a few additions, the first St. George's church, built in 1810, was too small Despite a few additions, the first St. George's church, built in 1810, was too small The second church, built in 1842, became a cathedral when Georgetown became the seat of the Diocese of Guiana The second church, built in 1842, became a cathedral when Georgetown became the seat of the Diocese of Guiana Due to a weak foundation in 1877, the construction of St. George's Cathedral was necessary Due to a weak foundation in 1877, the construction of St. George's Cathedral was necessary

TL;DR- AKA: I didn’t pay attention during the powerpoint

That’s All, Folks Get it? Because the central figure’s head was replaced with Porky’s? No..? Okay. Get it? Because the central figure’s head was replaced with Porky’s? No..? Okay.