The Temple of Diana (Furnishing Fabric) 1775 - 1785

Bromley Hall created this furnishing fabric with block printing in red on cotton. The scene is set within a classical landscape, drawing from the visual language of antiquity that was fashionable in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, this aesthetic interest was more than just a trend. It was deeply entwined with emerging European imperial ambitions and scholarly interests. Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, and other figures from mythology, were reimagined through the lens of the colonial gaze. This fabric presents a tamed version of nature, one that serves as a backdrop for human dominance and control. Consider the tension between the apparent beauty of the scene and the underlying themes of power. Hall invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between aesthetics, identity, and the historical forces that shape our perceptions.