Gezicht op St. Luke's Hospital te Londen before 1889

This is an engraving, made at an unknown date by an anonymous artist, depicting St. Luke's Hospital in London. The image gives us an insight into the public role of institutions in 19th-century London. The image creates meaning through its architectural details, suggesting stability and order. St. Luke's was a mental health hospital, founded in 1751. The fact that it was considered worthy of depiction in a public print suggests that institutions like this held an important position in the social consciousness of the time. The hospital itself was a product of the Enlightenment, reflecting a growing interest in the scientific understanding and treatment of mental illness. Further research into the archives of St. Luke's, along with contemporary social histories of London, would allow us to develop a deeper understanding of the hospital's role within its community. The meaning of this artwork is always contingent on its historical and institutional context.