Africans in Art

The V&A collections include many representations of African people in a variety of media, ranging from painted portraits, prints and photographs to images in illuminated manuscripts, stained glass and heraldic devices, as well as material relating to the slave trade and abolitionism.

Africans in Medieval & Renaissance Art: The Moor's Head

The use of the 'moor's head' as a heraldic device dates from the 13th century. The emblem has connections to the Crusades, reflecting associating individual families with victories over the Moors.

Africans in Medieval & Renaissance Art: Servant and Attendant

A fashion for possessing black domestic servants developed in Europe in the mid 15th century. Black African servants were used as status symbols by their owners.

Africans in Medieval & Renaissance Art: Duke Alessandro de' Medici

Alessandro de' Medici (1511-37), was a member of the powerful Italian family of merchants, bankers, rulers, patrons and collectors, who dominated the political and cultural life of Florence from the 15th century to the mid-18th century. Although he was the first Duke of Florence, it is thought that Alessandro's mother was a Moorish slave.

Africans in Medieval and Renaissance Art: Heathen

The colour black has long been used to evoke a negative image, and the colour white a positive one. In the later Middle Ages, the persecutors of Jesus were sometimes depicted as black, perhaps with exaggerated features and images of the martyrdom of saints often showed the executioner as black.

Africans in Medieval & Renaissance Art: The Three Kings

Medieval and Renaissance depictions of the visit of the three wise men or kings to Bethlehem to pay homage to the infant Jesus frequently depicted one of the kings as a black African.

Images of Slavery & Abolitionism

Although other European countries were involved in transatlantic trade, including the trade in enslaved African people, it was Britain which dominated this trade during the period from 1730 to 1800. In 1807 Britain finally abolished the slave trade.

Silver Service Slavery: The Black Presence in the White Home

Black Britons worked in a variety of professions; as sailors, shopkeepers, artisans, labourers, peddlers and street musicians, amongst others. The biggest employment sector for both white and black populations was domestic service and a large number of black people worked as servants, butlers, valets and other domestic helps.

Two African Gentlemen in London

This engraved double portrait presents two early African visitors to London. The image appeared as a bookplate in The Gentleman's Magazine & Historical Chronicle in 1750.

Bust of a Black Boy, Attributed to Joannes Claudius de Cock, 1705-10

Bust of a Black Boy. This early 18th century marble bust of a black boy in the Victoria & Albert Museum's (V&A) collections is an intriguing object which asks more questions than it answers.

Francis Williams: A Portrait of an Early Black Writer

This is a portrait of Francis Williams, the first recorded black writer in the British Empire. It was painted around 1745 by an unknown artist, who was probably based in Jamaica.

Africa

The V&A holds a variety of material from Africa. The collections include important historic artefacts from Egypt, Ghana and Ethiopia, as well as ceramics, textiles and glassware from North Africa, and prints and photographs from southern Africa.

Black Heritage

The V&A holds a variety of material relating to black heritage and culture, including fashion, photography and performance.

International Training Course

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Victoria and Albert Museum

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Africans in Medieval & Renaissance Art: The Moor's Head

Africans in Medieval & Renaissance Art: Servant and Attendant

Africans in Medieval & Renaissance Art: Duke Alessandro de' Medici

Africans in Medieval and Renaissance Art: Heathen