Standbeeld van koningin Victoria van het Verenigd Koninkrijk in Peel Park in Salford, Engeland before 1868

This is a photograph by Alfred Brothers of the statue of Queen Victoria in Peel Park, Salford. Dominating the scene is the statue of Queen Victoria herself, holding a scroll and wearing royal robes, symbols of governance and authority. Think of the classical contrapposto stance which has been employed since ancient times in Greek and Roman sculpture, symbolizing the stability and the virtue of the figure portrayed. Consider the scepter or scroll she holds; these are not merely objects but potent emblems. The scepter, a long, ornamental staff, has roots stretching back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, where it signified the ruler's power and divine right. Similarly, the scroll represents wisdom, knowledge, and the written law, echoing ancient traditions where legal codes were etched in stone and papyrus. These symbols—the scroll, the robes—evolve through time, passed down through history, shifting in meaning, yet forever tethered to the archetype of leadership. What the viewer sees is not just a queen, but the embodiment of centuries of inherited power.