Through History

A new exhibition at the Ashmolean showcases the dazzling colours of Victorian society

When considering the Victorian period in England, it is hard not to think of a dismal time characterised by hard labour, poverty, stuffy societal rules, dreary landscapes covered by smog and a grief-stricken Queen in mourning. However, it was during the 1800s that Britain experienced a colour revolution, with scientific advancements leading to the development and production of a brilliant new array of colours available to dye and paint with. Artists and designers, as well as everyday Victorians, embraced this new colourful existence resulting in the Victorian era being one of the brightest in history.