Africa’s traditional art significantly contributed to society’s rituals, which could not function appropriately without visual art. It can also be used to show rank or prominence or sometimes have divine relevance. African art comprises primarily of paintings, masks, and sculptures.
Benin Plaque art was made in Benin during the 20th Century, and the Veranda post was art created by Olowe of Ise. The two differ in several ways and have some similarities. The form in which the Benin plaque was constructed was very different from the Veranda post. Benin's one was cast brass relief plaque, a precious substance there, and the brass workers were expected to possess the utmost expertise. The form demonstrates an interaction between the local people and the Europeans, which is evident in the plaque showing figures from both the European and Beninese cultures. On the contrary, the Veranda post was carved with wood and painted with unidentified dye.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
In terms of function, the Benin plaque was used for decoration of palace walls. They were created in twos and fixed to pillars in the king’s palace. They also demonstrated the ceremonies taking place in the palace, and the order of the plaques displayed the history of the empire. The sculpture expressed royal power, representing the Oba’s physique as unusually large with an enormous head. The plaque also showed British rule impacts during Africa's partition. There was an immensely enhanced trade involving the Portuguese after the British triumph with Benin (Stuart, 2018). Veranda's post, instead, was architectural, structural support for the palace.
In regards to content, the Benin plaque sculpture portrays the king being served by numerous court servants. The middle of the plaque is where the king is portrayed operating to stress his unchallenged power. The assistants seem tinier than the king, neither because they are shorter nor more distant, but because they are inconspicuous compared to the king. The king is displayed decorated in jewelry and necklaces while riding a horse. The command's descending chain shows the king's relative significance to the encircling figures, as he is way bigger. Another peculiar distinct is how the king's head has been made a little bit larger to show that he is the heart of power and wisdom in entire Benin.
On the contrary case, Veranda post portrays the king sited while the superior wife behind and crowning him widespread and emphasizing her significance in rituals, participation, and advising the king. Smaller details show junior wife who plays the flute and a fan bearer. The specialist arrangement expresses strong relations between the queen and king.
In context, the Beninese mainly made trades with the Portuguese when the plaque was made. This system of trade was new and was newly enabled because of the British conquests of Benin. The Portuguese dominion started crumbling in the 18th Century, and the British began making advances into Benin. Regardless, the people had collaborated with the Portuguese and pursued mutually enriching trade, while the British desire to govern the citizens and procure resources. In 1897, the British attacked the king’s palace and torched the surrounding cities. They also ransacked the valuables and took them to Britain. The Benin plaque was one of the stolen items and is currently exhibited in a museum in Britain.
On the other hand, the Veranda post was influential in Yoruba cultures for hundreds of years. Olowe of Ise was deemed the most excellent Yoruba carver ever but he died in the year 1938 (Zucker, 2015). Despite all the differences, both were led by kings, and the whole kingdom treasured their sculptures. The sculptures are currently not in their countries of Origin despite them carrying deeper meanings in the origin countries. African art was and still is a form of expression of African cultures with deep hidden meanings.
References
Stuart, G. (2018). Benin plaque: Equestrian Oba and Attendants. https://smarthistory.org/benin-plaque-equestrian-oba-and-attendants-2/ .
Zucker, S., Klemm, P., & Clarke, C. (2015). Olowe of Ise, veranda post (Yoruba peoples). https://smarthistory.org/olowe-of-ise-veranda-post/ .
