Gezicht in het Italian Court in het Crystal Palace in Londen 1854

This stereoscopic card, titled 'Gezicht in het Italian Court in het Crystal Palace in Londen', was created by the London Stereoscopic Company. This image captures the Italian Court inside the Crystal Palace, a monumental glass structure built for the Great Exhibition of 1851. The Crystal Palace was a symbol of Victorian England's industrial and imperial power, showcasing technological advancements and cultural artifacts from around the world. The Italian Court, with its displays of classical sculpture and Renaissance-inspired architecture, reflected a Victorian fascination with European art and history. However, it also implicitly reinforced notions of cultural superiority and the appropriation of global heritage. This image makes me consider questions around the representation of culture and the politics of display in the 19th century. It serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between art, identity, and power during the Victorian era.