Worship Info - Idols - (Page 5 of 5)

There can sometimes be a fine line in difference between religious worship and the worship of a 'non-religious' idol. After his death in 1821, the Emperor Napoleon's status was almost raised to that of a god, for an example look at Vernet's painting of Napoleon's Tomb, painted 50 years after Napoleon's death.

Likewise, to many, Horatio Nelson was a figure of huge personal importance. William Holburne, who collected the works now housed in the Holburne Museum of Art, fought at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 as a 12-year-old boy. The Admiral Nelson was his hero and Holburne later purchased this snuff box as a piece of memorabilia to remember Nelson, who was killed in the battle. The ribbon inside the box describes how it was made from the ship's ladder down which Nelson was carried on his death on 21st October 1805.

In comparison, the Bow figures are extravagantly produced figures showcasing newly manufactured English Porcelain. The underlying reason for their production was a result of the popularity of the theatre. The play in which Kitty Clive and Henry Woodward appeared in was highly popular and resulted in the Bow Factory producing these figurines for a long time. They were effectively the 'Hollywood' stars of their day, indicating that the adoration of celebrities and celebrity life is not a new phenomenon. Do you think this is a type of worship?