‘The great exhibition of the works of industry of all nations’ was held in
hyde park in London from 1st May to 15th october 1851, within sir Joseph
paxton’s (1803-1865) Crystal palace. The palace was created especially for the
exhibition, which attracted seventeen thousand exhibitors from around the
world and over six million visitors - almost one third of the entire population
of Britain at the time. The Crystal palace itself was almost outdone by the
park in which it stood, which contained beautiful fountains and unrivalled
collections of statues, many of which were copies of great works from around
the world, and several of which are depicted in the present work.
In Black & White $50
