Maren Brophy, Nov 11, 2022
A Monumental Showcase
In 1851, Henry Cole and Prince Albert (husband to Queen Victoria), organized the famous Great Exhibition otherwise known as the Crystal Palace Exhibition, which came from the name of the palace in which it was held. The exhibition was monumental for many reasons. Most notably, it was the first of the World’s Fairs, a series of exhibitions that were popular around the 19th century and showcased technology and culture. A grand total of around 6 million visitors attended the event. As the Crystal Palace was part of the exhibition itself, visitors marvelled at the impressive glasswork and the scale. Throughout the exhibition, there were displays of cutting-edge technology including microscopes and electric telegraphs. The event was a tremendous success and made £186,000 (which is equivalent to tens of millions today). In addition to the financial success, the Great Exhibition helped bring other global and cultural influences to Britain and helped further the development of design, technology, and science.
The Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Dedicated to the Royal Commissioners., London: Read & Co. Engravers & Printers, 1851.
The Wondrous Displays of the Exhibition
The Exhibition showcased nearly everything one could imagine, from machinery to fine arts, to industrial design and textiles. There are many notable pieces from the exhibition, including a 27-foot-high fountain at the center of the building, a howdah displayed on a stuffed elephant, and the world’s largest known diamond. Exhibitions came from all over the world exposing the British to the art and technology from different cultures. For example, the Indian section of the exhibition introduced attendees to colourful and high-quality Indian textiles.
A telescope at the exhibition. image is taken from: “The Half Hour Library of Travel, Nature and Science for young readers” Volume: 03 Page: 237, 1896
Scholarships for Science
While the exposure to other international technologies and advances diversified Britain’s design and technology industry, it also demonstrated how other cultures were upstaging the British in this area. Some of the British exhibits lacked in comparison to the aesthetic appeal that the French had, or the engineering that the Germans had. Prince Albert took action to change this and created a series of scholarships. The scholarships were realized in 1891 with the foundation of the Commission’s Science Scholarships. The goal of these scholarships was to help developing inventors and scientists further their research. These scholarships demonstrate how the Great Exhibition still influences our world today. The scholarships (now known as Research Fellowships), are still being awarded over a century later.
The Legacy
The Great Exhibition was incredibly influential for Britain’s culture and technology and was one of the defining points of the nineteenth century. From the profits made, education and culture were further spread throughout Britain. A new cultural quarter was established in South Kensington using the money from the event. This quarter is now home to the Victoria and Albert Museum, Science Museum, Royal Albert Hall and many others. The technology on display at the Great Exhibition influenced our world for years to come such as steam locomotives and the printing press. The Great Exhibition shows us the importance of funding and showcasing technology and design to develop and improve our society.
Frieze detail in the internal courtyard. The frieze is a commemoration of the 1851 Great Exhibition. Here, Queen Victoria is shown in front of the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park and is surrounded by figures who represent the countries that were a part of the exhibition. Pres Panayotov/Shutterstock
References:
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Great-Exhibition-of-1851/
https://www-jstor-org.ezproxy.capilanou.ca/stable/j.ctvnb7rvd