The story behind the artwork

Mirroring the attention to detail on the underlying map by master cartographer, John Cary, Kristjana unpicks the fascinating history of the Royal Menagerie and simultaneously examines the juxtaposition of the Royals vs. the common marketeers in London of old.

In 1235 the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II bestowed upon King Henry III the most exotic and preposterous gift he could divine; ‘three leopards’ (in fact probably lions) and thus began the Tower of London’s Royal Menagerie which would proceed on through the centuries, pillaging the animal kingdom – eagles, pumas, ostriches, baboons, tigers, camels, elephants and more. The Polar Bear, seen here draped in Royal finery, was a 1252 gift from the King of Norway which was allowed to swim, not so freely, in the Thames and catch fish. And the common people flocked to the Tower to behold the gruesome, glorious, fascinating, repugnant menagerie of beasts prowling around their circular yard and to wonder at the might of the Royals who kept them. This continued on, peaking in the early 19th century with the acquisition over 300 new specimens, but the advent of the RSPCA in 1824 finally led to the decision that the animals needed a more suitable home. In 1831, 150 of them were moved to Regent’s Park and the ZSL London Zoo was created, now a highly regarded scientific zoo.

Kristjana marries the animals on the print with this rich historical backstory. They hold ‘Royal Menagerie’ signs in their mouths. The Ostrich has a plaque and the Crown Jewels on its back. Two tigers are given elaborate headdresses and represent the many large cats that made the tower their home. There are the 6 ravens of the Tower of London, wings clipped (and still so today) lest King Charles II decree should come true, “If the birds leave the White Tower will crumble and the country will be thrown in to chaos”. We see the animals that grace the Royal Parks; deer, squirrels and badgers. Then there are the dwellers of humbler haunts; foxes, rats, pigeons and mice. All making up the bestial tapestry of London.

Kristjana portrays the market places and lanes the marketeers once inhabited: Petticoat Lane, Grey’s Antiques Market, Billingsgate Market, Leadenhall Market, Spitalfields Market, Columbia Road flower market, Brick Lane and its Sunday Upmarket, Camden Market, Greenwich Market, Newton Street and Pineapple Place. Each market proffers a basket displaying its particular wares, each street name hints at goods once exchanged along its length.

We see also ghost tube stations; Downing Street and the British Museum. There is a perfume bottle telling the story of ‘Madeleine’, a scent developed to mask the acrid air of the underground,  but which was itself so potent, it caused 3 passengers to pass out and so was swiftly abolished. Spot the ticking clock and the rat with the Viking Hat, ‘Viking’ once a proposed name of the Victoria Line. 

Many museums are featured and examples of their eclectic collections spill out across the map. These include the British museum, The Science Museum, The Horniman Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum and the Maritime Museum at Greenwich.

This complex tale is framed in black industrial ironwork, reminiscent of the bones of old industrial London, interwoven with the soft turns of the meticulous Savile Row tailor’s tape. Over the top Kristjana has laid references to London as it continues to evolve. Soon after the demise of the Royal Menagerie, Tower Bridge was suspended across the ribboning Thames. And latterly the looming Millennium Wheel with finally the Shard piercing the London skyline.

The result is a historically alive, captivating and yet contemporary art print.

Artwork details

Printed in our studio in London on Matt Smooth Fine Art Cotton 300 gsm, using giclée inks to ensure you are able to enjoy your print for years to come. All prints come with a physical Certificate of Authenticity.

Edition of 175, signed and numbered by the artist.

Print sizes:
M - 84.1 cm x 50 cm
L - 118 cm x 71 cm

Our prints are professionally cut by hand in our studio, therefore sizes can vary by mm.

All Limited Edition prints come unframed.

Delivery & Returns

We offer free worldwide delivery on all Limited Edition prints orders.

Limited Edition prints are delivered within 3-5 working days

For information on our returns policy click here.