A Genealogical History of the Kings of England, and Monarchs of Great Britain, &c. From the Conquest, Anno 1066, to the Year 1677 1677

Editor: We are looking at “A Genealogical History of the Kings of England, and Monarchs of Great Britain, &c. From the Conquest, Anno 1066, to the Year 1677” by Francis Sandford. It is an engraving printed on paper from 1677. It shows an open book, on whose pages we see genealogical information of the English kings depicted in architectural settings, allegorical figures, and royal iconography. It's a little overwhelming actually, how do you interpret it? Curator: I see a potent display of power and the deliberate construction of a narrative, a reminder that history is never neutral. This print isn't just presenting facts; it's meticulously crafting a lineage, imbuing it with authority. Think about who controlled the printing presses then and the power they wielded in shaping public opinion and reinforcing dominant ideologies. What message do you think the architectural motifs, the allegorical figures are meant to convey to its contemporary audiences? Editor: Probably a sense of permanence? The architecture makes them feel like institutions rather than people, and thus less transient...more divinely ordained? Curator: Precisely. The artist aims to demonstrate the immutable continuity of the British monarchy. The architecture becomes a stage to reinforce their supposed natural right to rule. Do you think, looking at this today, it succeeds, or does the elaborate staging feel almost theatrical, like a vulnerable attempt to establish legitimacy? Editor: Maybe a little of both? The staging does come off a bit much. But in 1677, people may have been less cynical about those images of power. What can this print tell us about the legacy of colonialism or other related systems of oppression at the time? Curator: It speaks volumes about the cultural justification and the propagandistic tools used to perpetuate systems of oppression. Royal lineage wasn't just about who ruled; it determined land ownership, trade routes, and the subjugation of entire populations. These images served to sanctify and normalize those actions, connecting them to a divine right, and legitimizing inequality. Editor: So looking at a print like this isn’t just about admiring the artistry; it is about dissecting the message, and understanding how visual culture reinforces or challenges social norms and the distribution of power. Curator: Exactly, and realizing our own role in perpetuating those narratives or working to subvert them.