Perspective View of the Coronation of Queen Victoria in Westminster Abbey, June 28, 1838.
Paper Peepshow
1838 (Published)
1838 (Published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Apart from the slipcase image and a few minor details, this paper peepshow is practically the exact duplicate of Gestetner 224, which represents the coronation of William IV and Queen Adelaide. Only the fifth cut-out panel, with the image of the Queen, is new, yet this panel is strikingly bare, with only the necessary central figures. The panel has also been mistakenly swapped with the fourth cut-out panel, which shows the heralds and peers in the centre of the crossing. The publisher also forgot to remove one coronation chair from the second panel, as it would not have been needed. It would seem that the publisher was only interested in offering a paper peepshow of the latest major social topic and event, and was not too concerned about the accuracy of the presentation.
In a strange way, the mix-up in the paper peepshow could find a parallel in the actual coronation ceremony. It suffered from a lack of rehearsal, which resulted in the coronation ring put on the wrong finger of Queen Victoria, and her being wrongly told that the ceremony was over.
The publisher for this paper peepshow, Charles Tilt, published at least one other item related to the coronation, which is a panoramic view also in the V&A collection. He was an established publisher and worked together with George Cruikshank on more than one occasion. His paper peepshow however is almost identical to the work by publisher Charles Essex (Gestetner 224). It would be plausible that they had some kind of collaboration, yet the lack of evidence means this needs to remain a speculation.
In a strange way, the mix-up in the paper peepshow could find a parallel in the actual coronation ceremony. It suffered from a lack of rehearsal, which resulted in the coronation ring put on the wrong finger of Queen Victoria, and her being wrongly told that the ceremony was over.
The publisher for this paper peepshow, Charles Tilt, published at least one other item related to the coronation, which is a panoramic view also in the V&A collection. He was an established publisher and worked together with George Cruikshank on more than one occasion. His paper peepshow however is almost identical to the work by publisher Charles Essex (Gestetner 224). It would be plausible that they had some kind of collaboration, yet the lack of evidence means this needs to remain a speculation.
Object details
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| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Perspective View of the Coronation of Queen Victoria in Westminster Abbey, June 28, 1838, Tilt, Charles, 1838 |
| Physical description | Accordion-style paper peepshow of the Coronation of Queen Victoria in Westminster Abbey. 8 cut-out panels. 1 peep-hole. Hand-coloured aquatint. In a slipcase. Extends to approximately 72 cm. Slipcase: uncoloured aquatint view of the temporary robing rooms in front of the Abbey, and the title of the paper peepshow. Front-face: the title, the view of the triforium of Westminster Abbey in the centre, and the publisher’s imprint. The peep-hole consists of the arch in the centre. Panel 1: a gallery in the Abbey, crowded with audience; four musicians playing on kettle drums. Panel 2: two Coronation chairs in the middle of the Abbey, with four bishops nearby; audience on either side. Panel 3: four additional bishops in the Abbey, with the crowded gallery on the side. Panel 4: two groups of heralds standing in the centre in the crossing; peers seated on either side with audience above them in the gallery. Panel 5: Queen Victoria seated on her throne surrounded by people; a peer is preparing to pay homage. Panels 6 and 7: the choir and the audience in the gallery on either side. Panel 8: the choir and the choir screen; the audience in the gallery on either side. Back panel: the West Window and West Door. A silk tag is attached on the reverse side. |
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| Marks and inscriptions | On the back the slipcase inscription ‘Anna Maria E. Watson.’ |
| Credit line | Accepted under the Cultural Gifts Scheme by HM Government from the collections of Jacqueline and Jonathan Gestetner and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 2016. |
| Object history | Part of the Jacqueline and Jonathan Gestetner Collection, collected over 30 years and given to the V&A Museum through the government's Cultural Gift Scheme, 2016. On the back the slipcase inscription ‘Anna Maria E. Watson.’ |
| Summary | Apart from the slipcase image and a few minor details, this paper peepshow is practically the exact duplicate of Gestetner 224, which represents the coronation of William IV and Queen Adelaide. Only the fifth cut-out panel, with the image of the Queen, is new, yet this panel is strikingly bare, with only the necessary central figures. The panel has also been mistakenly swapped with the fourth cut-out panel, which shows the heralds and peers in the centre of the crossing. The publisher also forgot to remove one coronation chair from the second panel, as it would not have been needed. It would seem that the publisher was only interested in offering a paper peepshow of the latest major social topic and event, and was not too concerned about the accuracy of the presentation. In a strange way, the mix-up in the paper peepshow could find a parallel in the actual coronation ceremony. It suffered from a lack of rehearsal, which resulted in the coronation ring put on the wrong finger of Queen Victoria, and her being wrongly told that the ceremony was over. The publisher for this paper peepshow, Charles Tilt, published at least one other item related to the coronation, which is a panoramic view also in the V&A collection. He was an established publisher and worked together with George Cruikshank on more than one occasion. His paper peepshow however is almost identical to the work by publisher Charles Essex (Gestetner 224). It would be plausible that they had some kind of collaboration, yet the lack of evidence means this needs to remain a speculation. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | 38041016058539 - NAL barcode |
| Collection | |
| Library number | Gestetner 231 |
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| Record created | June 27, 2018 |
| Record URL |
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