Fire was set on the royal palace of Benin and destroyed one of the greatest cultural complexes of Africa. The royal palace had different apartments with beautiful and long square galleries. The roofs were decorated with metal birds that represented the Bird of Prophecy. The European Discovered the African art in 1897 when the British attacked Benin. Britain was competing with other colonies to grab African continent. The attack came in the year of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The Victorians were considered decent and moral about their empire. The British Museum is full with Benin Plaque and sculpture and the medium used was brass. After the European explored and colonized Africa, Modernism was born.

• The city and the royal palace of Benin was destroyed by fire.
• The British punitive expedition against Benin led to the discovery of African art in 1897.
• The British museum consist of Benin plague and sculpture.

First, the royal palace of Benin is regarded as the one of the greatest cultural complex in the African continent. However, the city and the royal palace was set on fire. The Victorians did not expect such an action to take place since the court was the same size as the European town. Second, in the year 1897, the British punitive expedition against Benin led to the discovery of African art by the Europeans. The British crushed Benin and stole its treasures; hence making the African art visible to Europeans. The 1897 photographs shows treasures of the 16^th century. The pillars of the Oba’s palace were decorated with brass plaques. The punitive expedition by the British led to the discovery of the rich artistic culture of Benin. Third, after the discovery of the Benin art, the British took the arts pieces to their museum. The British museum consist of Benin plague and sculpture. The British sold the classic art of Benin and provided compensation to the families of the British Victims.

In conclusion, Benin’s royal palace was one of the greatest cultural complex in Africa. The destruction of the city and the royal palace was a bigger blow to the residence. According to the Victorians, they did not expect such an action to occur. Benin was a country with treasures and the Europeans discovered the classic African art when the British were carrying out punitive expedition in the year 1897. The looting of the treasures made the African art visible to the Europeans. From the 1897 photographs, the pillars of the Obe’s palace were decorated with brass plagues. The British had no choice other than taking the art pieces to their Museum in London. Some of the classic arts were then sold to provide compensation to the families of the British victims. Modernism was born after the encounter between the British and Africans in the 19^th century.

 
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