Alfred (Lord) Tennyson before 1897

This photogravure of Alfred, Lord Tennyson was created by Herbert Rose Barraud, and is part of an edition included in a book of letters. It captures the poet laureate, a figure who, through his verse, became a national icon in Victorian England. The image, with Tennyson's signature beard and contemplative gaze, embodies the romantic ideal of the poet as a sage and seer. Tennyson's status was cultivated by the institutions of his time. He was appointed Poet Laureate by Queen Victoria in 1850, a position that placed him at the heart of Britain's cultural establishment. His poems often reflected and reinforced the values of the British Empire and his work was incorporated into the educational system, shaping the literary tastes and moral sentiments of generations. The image invites us to consider how the literary canon is constructed. To understand the cultural work it performs, one can consult archives, periodicals, and other printed matter to delve deeper into Tennyson's world. This helps us grasp the social conditions that elevated him to such prominence.