before 1898
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Curatorial notes
This metal relief of a battle scene was crafted by Stevenson & Ogilvie. Without specific dates, we can only speculate about the historical and cultural context. Battle scenes in art often served to glorify power, valor, and national identity. This particular relief, however, is small in scale and could suggest a more intimate, perhaps even critical, perspective on conflict. Consider who typically commissioned and consumed such works: were they meant for public display to inspire patriotism, or for private contemplation on the costs of war? The figures around the perimeter seem to represent an elite class, perhaps the very individuals who both orchestrate and are shielded from the brutality of battle. Reflect on your own feelings about conflict as you consider this artwork. Does it evoke a sense of pride, sorrow, or perhaps a challenge to traditional narratives of heroism? Perhaps this piece invites us to reconsider the stories we tell about war and who benefits from them.