III. Shrine of Sacrifice
1984
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1984
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
III. Shrine of Sacrifice is a 1984 by Tony Phillips, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This print shows a scene called III. Shrine of Sacrifice. It’s part of a twelve-plate set Tony Phillips made in 1984. Phillips looked back at Britain’s 1897 raid on Benin City. The British press lied to justify it, calling the Oba and his people “savages.” But the art they stole proved Benin was advanced. Next time you’re in London, check out the real plates at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The etching *III. Shrine of Sacrifice* by Tony Phillips, created in 1984 as part of the *History of the Benin Bronzes* series, depicts a shrine in Benin City. A bronze figure is positioned on the left side of the composition, while additional objects, including a sculpted head, are arranged on the floor. The work reflects on the 1897 British raid on Benin, which was justified through colonial narratives of human sacrifice despite evidence of a highly developed society. Phillips’ piece critiques the historical distortion surrounding the looting and dispersal of Benin’s cultural artifacts.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Tony Phillips made a series of twelve prints in 1984 that blend symbols and everyday scenes.
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