Watercolour of The Great Exhibition

Joseph Nash watercolour recording the Royal party at The Great Exhibition

The Great Exhibition of 1851, in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, was the first international exhibition ever to be held. Its aims were to celebrate human progress in the form of manufacture, invention and good design, and to promote cooperation between nations. The principal organisers were Prince Albert and Henry Cole. Queen Victoria and her family paid numerous visits to the Great Exhibition. This watercolour (by Joseph Nash) records the royal party inspecting exhibits in the 'British Nave'.