Westminster Abbey in Londen 1870 - 1881

This photograph of Westminster Abbey in London was taken by Francis Godolphin Osbourne Stuart sometime between 1843 and 1923. Stuart, a man born into the Victorian era, captured the Abbey, a symbol of British history, power, and religion. The grand gothic architecture embodies centuries of tradition, representing an intersection of church and state. It’s impossible to look at this image without considering the Abbey as the coronation church since 1066, and the final resting place for monarchs, poets, and scientists. This image would have circulated during a time of shifting imperial power. What does it mean to photograph such a loaded symbol? How might the act of photographing the abbey solidify or question what it represents? Think about what kind of cultural narrative Stuart was hoping to create or perhaps preserve. The photograph serves as a powerful reminder of how architectural spaces are imbued with cultural significance.