Ruiterstandbeeld van Richard I Leeuwenhart door Carlo Marochetti bij de Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations van 1851 in Londen 1851

This photograph by C.M. Ferrier and F. von Martens documents Carlo Marochetti’s equestrian statue of Richard I, or Richard the Lionheart, at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. The statue and this photograph embody the complex intersection of power, identity, and historical narrative. Richard, a symbol of English royalty, is valorized through the artistic and technological achievements showcased at the Exhibition. The statue and photograph immortalize and disseminate particular versions of English history tied to colonial power. What does it mean to monumentalize figures like Richard, especially when considering the legacies of colonialism and the diverse experiences of those within and outside the British Empire? The photograph asks us to consider whose stories are amplified and whose are marginalized. In the end, the work is a cultural artifact reflecting both personal visions and broader societal values.