The Indian Court and Jewels
1851
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1851
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
You see a bright, crowded room filled with glass cases of jewels, shawls, and carved figures—all lit by sunlight streaming through a huge glass roof. This watercolor was made for the Great Exhibition of 1851, the world’s first global fair of industry and art. Over six million people walked through the same space, marveling at objects from across the British Empire. Pidgeon’s painting freezes that moment of wonder before cameras could. To see more of these souvenirs, visit the Victoria and Albert Museum.
