Obelisk Grave Monument, No. 901 / 920 1840 - 1880

This is Alexander Maxwell's "Obelisk Grave Monument, No. 901 / 920", a design on paper that provides insight into the memorial architecture of the 19th century. Maxwell, who lived through the Victorian era, presents us with a design that speaks volumes about the social rituals surrounding death and remembrance. The obelisk, with its Egyptian origins, was a popular symbol in Western culture at this time, representing permanence and power. Victorian society was highly stratified. Grave monuments were a status symbol, reflecting the social standing and wealth of the deceased and their family. Maxwell’s design suggests not just a marker of death, but a statement of identity, class and aspiration. Consider the emotional landscape of the time, where mourning was ritualized, and cemeteries were designed as places for reflection and public display. This artwork captures an era's complex relationship with mortality, memory, and social representation.