Netley Abbey, Hampshire c. mid 19th century

Miss Selby made this watercolor and ink drawing of Netley Abbey in Hampshire sometime in the 19th century. The crumbling architecture of the Abbey, an institution that was dissolved during the Reformation, speaks to us about British history. Netley Abbey was caught up in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, which saw Henry VIII seize church lands and wealth. Selby’s choice of subject matter is interesting. Was she interested in lamenting the loss of monasticism, or celebrating a key moment in the making of British identity? Selby made the image at a time when women artists were gaining more institutional recognition, but were still excluded from the Royal Academy and other powerful art institutions. Her choice of medium reflects that: watercolor was seen as an amateur, feminine pursuit. Art historians can look into exhibition records, letters, and other archival materials to better understand her place in the art world of her time.