Monument van Fox in Westminster Abbey before 1869

Curator: Looking at this photograph from before 1869, we see the “Monument van Fox in Westminster Abbey” captured in gelatin silver. Editor: Gosh, that's imposing! Even in the grayscale, the architecture just *looms*. It's all pillars and... well, solemnity. And this monument... is that supposed to be a body being mourned? Curator: It is indeed. The sculpture depicts Charles James Fox, a prominent Whig statesman, in a classical, almost theatrical tableau of mourning, reflecting the artistic conventions of the time which were deeply intertwined with political narratives. Note the idealised form and the neoclassical style, all pointing to a desire to align Fox with enduring ideals of virtue. Editor: Ah, the Whigs. Always loved a good power stance, even in marble. It makes me think about who gets to be monumentalized – whose stories become etched in stone like that? There's such vulnerability in portraying death and such permanence in these historical narratives. Curator: Precisely. Monuments like this are never neutral. They embody particular ideological positions and serve as visual rhetoric. This work not only commemorates Fox but also promotes certain values and a specific vision of British identity and governance. The photograph, by circulating images of this monument, contributes to its ongoing political relevance. It immortalizes not only Fox, but also certain viewpoints and historical claims tied to the legacy he represents. Editor: A photograph of a sculpture…it's like another layer of abstraction on the human experience! Makes me think, even now we’re snapping pictures, curating images and immortalizing moments, we are consciously building our legacy and mythologizing certain public figures. Curator: And by studying how these images were created and circulated, we get a better understanding of power dynamics and social narratives that are very much alive today. Editor: Totally! You know, just pondering what digital afterlife awaits us all now! Curator: An important, relevant consideration to contextualize this pre-digital commemoration. Editor: Alright then, off to explore more stones and stories!