The Opening of the Great Exhibition by Queen Victoria on 1 May
1851 - Place of origin: London, England (probably, painted)
Henry Courtney Selous, born 1803 - died 1890 (painter (artist))
- Materials and Techniques: Oil on canvas - Credit Line: Given
by Warren W. de la Rue - Museum number: - Gallery location: The
Victorians frequently commissioned large commemorative oil
paintings of significant events, and many pictures of the Great
Exhibition were made. This one was originally executed for
commercial purposes, so that prints reproducing it could be made
and sold. Sometimes an artist could make more money from the
reproduction rights than from the sale of the original painting.
Henry Courtenay Selous (1803-1890) was a London painter of
genre, landscape and historical and literary subjects. He was
the son of the painter George Selous and was a pupil of the
painter John Martin. In 1843 he won a œ200 prize at the
Westminster Hall Cartoon Competition. He produced illustrations
for the Art Union and illustrated ma