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Constructing the Nation and Empire: Victorian and Edwardian Images of the Building of Roman Fortifications

Hingley, Richard

Constructing the Nation and Empire: Victorian and Edwardian Images of the Building of Roman Fortifications Thumbnail


Authors



Contributors

Thorsten Fögen
Editor

Richard Warren
Editor

Abstract

This paper explores four images that date to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that show building operations in Roman Britain. These include two paintings, an engraving and a book illustration. The images show scenes derived from the Roman northern frontiers in Britain and also the building of the Roman fort at Manchester. A series of human characters included in these scenes provide insight into the ways that the Roman past was envisaged in Victorian and Edwardian Britain. This paper seeks to relate these images of ancient scenes of building to the concerns of contemporary communities about national identity and the imperial role of Britain at a time of heightening international insecurity. It is clear that Romans and ancient Britons represented powerful ancestor figures and the images show a variety of ways in which the past was received and communicated.

Citation

Hingley, R. (2016). Constructing the Nation and Empire: Victorian and Edwardian Images of the Building of Roman Fortifications. In T. Fögen, & R. Warren (Eds.), Graeco-Roman antiquity and the idea of Nationalism in the 19th century : case studies (153-174). De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110473490-008

Acceptance Date Aug 8, 2016
Online Publication Date May 1, 2016
Publication Date May 1, 2016
Deposit Date Mar 14, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Publisher De Gruyter
Pages 153-174
Book Title Graeco-Roman antiquity and the idea of Nationalism in the 19th century : case studies.
DOI https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110473490-008

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Copyright Statement
The final publication is available at www.degruyter.com





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