From 1837 to 1901, Queen Victoria ruled a British Empire that grew to span a quarter of the globe and include some 450 million people. Her reign coincided with a period of extraordinary social and technological change—and a revolution in visual culture. Images of Victoria were ubiquitous. Broadsides, weeklies, literary annuals, newspapers, engravings, souvenirs, postage stamps, coins, and photographs brought the sovereign, and the monarchy, into peoples’ homes and lives, and shaped their expectations of and responses to the real and figurative Queen. Rather than a history of the nineteenth century, the British Empire, or Victoria’s reign, this exhibition is a look at ‘framed’ imagery, for Victoria depicted was Victoria defined.

Join Rare Books for tours on Saturday, October 5 of our two current exhibits: Victoria: A Ruling Image and Arthur Sullivan and the Royal Family. These special collections give rare glimpses into Victorian life and culture that are both visually fascinating and full of informative, compelling content. Short introductions will provide an overview of the exhibits, with curators on hand to guide and answer questions while you continue to view them at your own pace. Additional exhibits in Special Collections, Robbins Library, the Great Hall, and the Friedlander Gallery will also be available. Ask us anything and stay for as long as you'd like!

Tours:
1–1:15 p.m.
2–2:15 p.m.
3–3:15 p.m.
4–4:15 p.m.

The exhibit is on view through December 20, 2019