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The Peace Illuminations - the Horse Guards, Whitehall Front, 1856. Creator: Unknown
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The Peace Illuminations - the Horse Guards, Whitehall Front, 1856. Creator: Unknown
The Peace Illuminations - the Horse Guards, Whitehall Front, 1856. London celebrations to mark the end of the Crimean War. In a fit of old-boyish excitement...the old gentlemen of England determined to make the people "jolly, " to give them a grand spectacle, such as children and savages love, and to immolate the War-demon in the several parks of the metropolis in a shower of rockets and Roman candles, and amid a gush of blue and crimson flame...it was resolved to celebrate the auspicious birthday of the Queen and the inauspicious Treaty of Peace on the same evening...Ten, and probably twenty, thousand pounds worth of gunpowder and other combustibles was thus expended...to teach the people, we suppose, how much more rational and pleasant it is to put gunpowder to such uses than to employ it in the demolition of Russian fortresses, or in the restoration of the equilibrium of Europe'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856
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Anniversary Badge Badges Birthday Celebrating Celebration Celebrations City Of Westminster London England Crimean War Crowds Gas Lighting Horse Guards Illuminate Illuminated Illumination Illuminations Lights Lit Up Patriotic Patriotism Peace Propaganda Regimental Royal Event Triumph Triumphal Triumphalism Westminster London England Militaristic
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The Peace Illuminations - Horse Guards, Whitehall Front, 1856, is an evocative image capturing the jubilant celebrations marking the end of the Crimean War in London. The photograph, taken from an unknown artist, depicts the Horse Guards Parade illuminated by an array of fireworks and bonfires, with the grandeur of Whitehall in the background. The scene was set as a result of the old gentlemen of England's desire to bring joy to the people after years of war. Ten, and possibly twenty thousand pounds worth of gunpowder and other combustibles were spent on this spectacle, creating a grand display of rockets, Roman candles, and blue and crimson flames. The evening of celebration held significant meaning, as it marked both the Queen's birthday and the signing of the Treaty of Peace. The Illuminations were intended to demonstrate the contrast between the destructive power of war and the peaceful joy of celebration. The people of London were invited to gather and witness the spectacle, a reminder of the pleasures that could be derived from gunpowder other than its military use. The Illuminations were widely reported in the press, with the Illustrated London News describing the event as a "fit of old-boyish excitement" that aimed to "teach the people...how much more rational and pleasant it is to put gunpowder to such uses than to employ it in the demolition of Russian fortresses, or in the restoration of the equilibrium of Europe." This photograph, a testament to the power of peace and the human spirit, remains a fascinating glimpse into the past, showcasing the joy and unity that can be achieved when conflict comes to an end.
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