Gezicht op de Great Vine, bij Hampton Court Palace 1840

S. Jr. Turrell made this print of the Great Vine at Hampton Court Palace with an etching technique. The image shows a vine that was a marvel of the English court, cultivated for the enjoyment of the monarchy. Notice how Turrell’s print is dedicated to Queen Victoria. This dedication reveals the artist's desire to connect with the symbols of power. It shows that the image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The vine itself, carefully cultivated and displayed, becomes a symbol of British power and the monarchy's cultivation of not only nature, but of the nation. To better understand this print, we can look at the history of Hampton Court Palace, the cultivation of exotic plants in England, and the role of royal patronage in the arts. The social conditions that shape artistic production are visible here, in Turrell's attempt to align himself with the Victorian monarchy through his art.