Introduction -- A brief overview of politics, art and European contacts -- Threat and creativity: the political context for Esigie's commission -- Remembrance and memorial: methods of commemorating history in Benin art -- Patterns of authorship: the workshop method and architectural installation of the plaque corpus -- The installation of the plaque corpus under Esigie and Orhogbua -- Conclusion: a theory that covers the facts.
Summary:
The 16th century bronze plaques from the kingdom of Benin are among the most recognized masterpieces of African art, and yet many details of their commission and installation in the palace in Benin City, Nigeria, are little understood. The Benin Plaques, A 16th Century Imperial Monument is a detailed analysis of a corpus of nearly 850 bronze plaques that were installed in the court of the Benin kingdom at the moment of its greatest political power and geographic reach. By examining European accounts, Benin oral histories, and the physical evidence of the extant plaques, Gunsch is the first to propose an installation pattern for the series.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.