Allegorische voorstelling met huilende Britannia 1682

Robert White created this engraving, Allegorische voorstelling met huilende Britannia, in the late 17th century. Here we see Britannia, the female personification of Great Britain, in distress, surrounded by symbols of lost power and religious conflict. White made this print during a period of intense political and religious upheaval in England. Following the death of Charles II, the Catholic James II ascended to the throne, causing widespread anxiety among the Protestant population. The print reflects the deep divisions of the time, depicting Britannia mourning the state of the nation. The rosary offered by the cleric symbolizes the Catholic threat to English sovereignty. The image tells a story of cultural and religious identity under threat. The battles raging in the background and the buildings in flames evoke a sense of chaos and destruction. Britannia's sorrow is palpable. The print offers a window into the complex interplay of politics, religion, and national identity in 17th-century England, capturing the anxieties and fears of a nation on the brink of change.