At the back entrance of the old Slave Lodge in Cape Town is a pediment with a 300-year old cartoon. It depicts the UK's Coat of Arms with the attendant Lion and Unicorn looking forlorn and dejected, instead of upright and heraldic.
I believe that it was produced by Louis Thibault, a French architect was was responsible for the design of a number of beautiful old Cape buildings. It may also have included Anton Anreith's input. It was produced between 1803 and 1806 when the Cape Colony was under a brief period of Dutch control, following the first British occupation of the Cape in 1795. Thibault was no fan of the British, who had snubbed him during their first occupation. The cartoon celebrates the "defeat of the British" and that "De Kaap is weer Hollands" (The Cape is Dutch again)
Whenever I hear about new dispensations wanting to remove statues and other symbols of past governments, I think of this lovely piece. It remained through 200 years of British rule, and is an interesting history lesson today. I have great respect for those who knew it was a dig, but left the artwork in place.
Originally started the project to improve my photography skills. Over a 2500 photos later it's become a personal diary. I post pictures that mark my...
That is very, very funny! And agree about people having enough sense of humour to allow it to remain. It is fantastic! Without 365 we'd never see and be able to enjoy this kind of detail from all over the world.
That is great, especially when you look closely at the British Coat of Arms. You can see the French saying: "honi soit qui mal y pense" the motto of the British Order of the Garter. It means "Shame be to him who thinks evil of it". Having this included with the unhappy lion and unicorn, it adds even more to the humor. You can read more about this saying here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honi_soit_qui_mal_y_pense
I agree with you about the preservation of history even if it runs counter to current belief systems - so much has been destroyed through the years ...
