Allegorische voorstelling met huilende Britannia 1682

Robert White's "Allegorische voorstelling met huilende Britannia" (1682) depicts the personified Britannia weeping over the ruins of London, following the Great Fire of 1666. The etching, housed in the Rijksmuseum, uses a powerful combination of symbolism and detail to illustrate the devastation. Britannia, crowned and draped in a flowing gown, sits amidst shattered regalia, her despair palpable. Above, a hand emerges from the clouds, holding a sword, representing divine intervention and hope for rebuilding. This poignant allegorical image speaks to the resilience of the British nation in the face of tragedy.