Saloon at the Marine Pavilion. The Royal Pavilion at Brighton. 1 - 1790

Thomas Rowlandson created this print of the Saloon at the Marine Pavilion using etching and aquatint. Here, the chandelier is more than mere illumination; it's a dazzling display of power. Its presence echoes the opulence of royal courts through history, from Versailles to the Forbidden City, where light was strategically used to impress and awe. Consider the evolution of the chandelier: from crude tallow lamps in medieval castles to elaborate crystal fixtures, it embodies humanity’s ceaseless striving for grandeur. Its golden glow in this print stirs something primal in us—a collective memory of warmth and security contrasted with the cold, dark unknown. Rowlandson taps into this deep-seated connection. The chandelier, a beacon of civilization, becomes a stage for social interplay, a silent observer of human dramas unfolding beneath its glittering gaze. We are drawn to it, subconsciously yearning for the comfort and status it represents, linking us to a timeless narrative of aspiration and display.