The Great Exhibition in Art: Picturing the First World's Fair, 1851

The Great Exhibition of 1851 is often remembered as a vast showcase of industry and empire, yet it also responded to concerns about British taste and its reliance on European models. Julius Bryant will draw on the V&A’s collections to reveal the central role of fine art within the Exhibition, from how the Exhibition was seen, recorded and experienced by its 19th-century visitors, to its displays and ceremonies and the images that circulated in publications and press. Considering the role of artists in shaping its public image, Bryant will also reflect on Prince Albert’s vision and the Exhibition’s lasting legacy, including its influence on the founding mission of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Julius Bryant will be signing copies of The Great Exhibition in Art: Picturing the First World's Fair, 1851 after the talk.