Victorian Web

Working gas lamps outside Parliament today, gleaming and ready for the King's visit (at least something is... ) Historic gas lamps at the Palace of Westminster are mostly rare globe lamps, made circa 1880 by William Sugg & Co, illuminating politicians since Gladstone and Disraeli

'Moonlit River.' (c1917) More than any other artist, it was Whistler with his atmospheric paintings of the Thames, that had a profound influence on George Hyde Pownall - he specialized in moonlight scenes of this sort, usually with a full moon fairly central in the composition.

This is why we need to support the Victorian Society!

Since it's May... celebrating a favourite Victorian cartoonist, Phil May: here he is, at his easel, with another of his drawings, this one of Gladstone "in the house", looking distinctly unimpressed by the proceedings! victorianweb.org/art/illustrati… #cartoons

Designed by celebrated engineer Robert Stephenson, and brought into use in 1851, the Rewley Road Swing Bridge is thought to be the earliest surviving moving-element railway bridge in the world. Do visit if you've never been, it's a remarkable structure.

Planning your staycation for the summer? Actually, there are plenty of lovely spots to choose from. This is William Henry Millais' watercolour, of 1861: "Little Thornwick Bay near Flamborough Head." victorianweb.org/painting/milla… #painting #nature

See, banks and brakes / Now, leavèd how thick! lacèd they are again / With fretty chervil, look, and fresh wind shakes / Them; (Gerard Manley Hopkins, Sonnet 51, "Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord" victorianweb.org/authors/hopkin…

Born #OnThisDay 1825. the artist James Collinson, once engaged to Christina Rossetti. The title of one of his paintings, "For Sale," has aroused some controversy: was the girl at the bazaar, herself, in the market for marriage? victorianweb.org/painting/colli…

#Woodensday Mahogany in James Simpson's Central Methodist Church at St Saviourgate, York. Notice individual holes for communion cups on the altar rails. victorianweb.org/art/architectu…

Do check out this great addition to our existing material on Penny Dreadfuls: "Much 'Treasure' at a Small Price: New Studies of Victorian Penny Fiction," by Rebecca Nesvet—and see what this genre has to say about the Victorians (and us!) victorianweb.org/periodicals/ne…

3/3 Also at Kesgrave Holy Family, glass by her cousin Margaret Edith Rope featuring St Anne Lynne and St Robert Southwell, two of the English Martyrs who are celebrated today, along with Blessed John Robinson. It forms the parish WWII war memorial.

#Rain today after a pleasant break from it! Here, Hugh Thomson illustrates an early episode in Jane #Austen's "Emma," which leads to Mr Weston's marrying Miss Taylor and gives Emma ideas about match-making! victorianweb.org/art/illustrati…

Post boxes in England were not always red. For much of the 19th century, they were painted green, designed to blend into the landscape. But there was a problem. People kept walking past them. In poor light, fog, or rain, they were difficult to spot. Letters were missed. The system suffered. So in 1874, a solution was introduced. Bright red. Red made post boxes instantly visible in all conditions. A small number of green post boxes still survive today, but they are exceptionally rare. Have you ever come across one of the original green post boxes? Follow @oaksandlions for more interesting posts like this. 📷: Original Penfold green postbox on High St, Rochester, Kent. #EnglishHistory #EnglishHeritage #PostBoxes #DidYouKnow

Six years ago I bought this anonymous pencil drawing on eBay for £10, thinking it was probably by Myles Birket Foster (1825-1899). Yesterday, browsing the digitised Witt Collection of the Courtauld Institute, I found an image of the finished watercolour. So now it's worth £25 😁

Creative Copmmons-great! One for our Neatby section!Take a pooek at what we have so far: victorianweb.org/art/design/nea…

Lookinghforward to this one, hope not too spooky!

Do read our "What's New" for April! We're celebrating a new link with the Pugin Society, and have some wonderful book reviews, an exhibition review, new work on VIctorian seaside resorts as they developed, some delightful new illustrations, etc. etc. victorianweb.org/misc/whatsnew.…

This is what London looked like 120 years ago

Interior of the #Church of #OurLady & #StWilfrid, #TheWarwickBridge, #Carlisle, #Cumbria. #AWNPugin. 1840-41. In 1849, the interior decoration was completed. It is the only #Pugin's church in #Cumbria.📷©Tony Peart. #augustuspugin #gothicrevival #ourladyandstwilfridchurch #design

OUT now! 🎯 Major new publication from our Trustee Roger Bowdler: The British Cemetery