{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O142919"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O142919/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018LF6309/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018LF6309/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2018LF6309","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O142919/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O142919","accessionNumber":"PH.374-1885","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"King Theodore of Abyssinia","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"This image of the Ethiopian emperor Tewodros II (Theodore) was created shortly after his death on 13 April 1868. Frustrated by a lack of communication from Queen Victoria's government, back in 1864 Tewodros had taken a number of Europeans captive, including the British consul, Captain Cameron. The British response was a military expedition of huge complexity and expense led by General Sir Robert Napier. The expedition marched to Tewodros's fortress at Maqdala where a brief battle took place. Britain won the conflict, but not before the captives were released and Tewodros had taken his own life.\r\n\r\nThe expedition - and the characters associated with it - caught the imagination of the British public. In particular the figure of the Ethiopian emperor, variously described as a 'barbarian potentate', 'tyrant' and 'mad, wild king', was a popular focus. Yet Tewodros could also be portrayed admiringly as a noble warrior - an attitude which this image seems to reflect. The authenticity of the image is supported by its provenance; handwritten text on its reverse notes that it was 'taken from a sketch by one of the captives'.","physicalDescription":"Photograph of sketch of the head and shoulders of the Ethiopian emperor Tewodros II (Theodore) mounted onto card to form a carte de visite. Handwritten text on the reverse notes that the image was 'taken from a sketch by one of the captives'.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Albumen print","categories":[{"text":"African Diaspora","id":"THES48873"},{"text":"Portraits","id":"THES48906"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2018LF6309"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"512M","id":"THES49774"},"free":"","case":"MX8","shelf":"X","box":"19"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1868","earliest":"1863-01-01","latest":"1872-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"10.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"(of carte de visite)","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"(of carte de visite)","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Printed text on the front face: 'KING THEODORE OF ABYSSINIA / WHIBLEY    BISHOPS RD, W.' Handwritten text on the reverse: 12 Nov(?) 1867 / Taken from a sketch by one of the captives'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Carte de visite, Tewodros II (Theodore) of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), London, ca. 1868","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Tewodros II","id":"N6936"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"Siege of Maqdala","id":"V92"}],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["PH.374-1885"],"accessionNumberNum":"374","accessionNumberPrefix":"PH","accessionYear":1885,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-12","recordCreationDate":"2008-01-08","availableToBook":false}}