Arthur Drummond's Allegory of the British Empire, 1901
Arthur Drummond's allegory of the British Empire, 1901. Queen Victoria, already dead by the time the picture was painted, is seated on a heavenly throne, surrounded by aristocrats, bureaucracy and native subjects from the colonies. On earth are Edward VII, the Prince of Wales, and other members of the royal family with courtiers, officials and the attributes of the navy. It is an interesting decision on the artist's part to have placed the British crown in the celestial spheres together with Victoria: on earth we see not a single crowned person nor any sign of royal power, save for the regalia lying on the table