Sculptuur, voorstellende Geoffrey Chaucer before 1866

This sculpture of Geoffrey Chaucer was created by an anonymous artist, probably in the 19th century, and reproduced here as a photographic print in a book. It's interesting to think about why Chaucer, a medieval poet, would become a subject for sculpture so long after his death. In 19th-century Britain, there was a renewed interest in national identity and heritage. Chaucer, as the author of *The Canterbury Tales*, was seen as a foundational figure in English literature, a symbol of the nation’s cultural achievements. The choice of sculpture as a medium further elevates Chaucer, associating him with classical ideals of virtue and wisdom. This image presents Chaucer as a figure of national pride, reinforcing a particular narrative of English history. To fully understand this image, we need to consider the social and institutional contexts in which it was produced and circulated. Researching Victorian-era literary societies, art institutions, and the development of national identity could shed light on the cultural work this sculpture was intended to perform. This is just one example of how the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.