This painting by Niels Moller Lund, was completed in the year 1904, and is entitled “The Heart of the Empire”. This painting shows London as a great metropolis, replacing Rome as the “most important city in the world.” In this painting, thriving people fill the streets, with massive well built, well mainlined buildings on either side of them. During the height of the British Empire, it was “the center of the global trading system, and attracted talent and investment from all across the globe.” The expansive trading network, and Britain’s stance in the world economy at the time, allowed the empire to thrive. It gave it the money, and means to create and maintain such an impoverished thriving society. I believe this image was produced, in order to enjoy, and remember the greatness of this city, in the British Empire in its height. The painter Lund, wanted to show people how impressive London, “The most important city in the world” was. Niels Moller Lund, was originally Danish, born in 1863 in Faaborg, Denmark, then growing up in Paris. Not originally being born in Britain or growing up there, this young talented man, was attracted to London, and the British Empire. Attracted the to paint, but non the less, attracted to its greatness, and the gloriousness of it.
Kimberly Polcari
Esther Cuenca
His 101: Western Traditions II
2 March 2014
http://www.britishempire.co.uk/index.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niels_Moeller_Lund