Antique Early 19th century Georgian Period, Rare example of a hand Painted Gouache likely on Alabaster Painting supporting the Abolition of Slavery, a movement which started at the latter end of the 18th Century in England, eventually passed through parliament to its fulfilment of the banning of Slavery in great Britain in the year circa 1833. The Painting is mounted in original period Gilded wooden Portal style frame with original Convex glaze intact preserving the painting within. The Image depicts the figure of a crouching slave in chains (real physical pieces of metal adding gravitas to the figure) appealing to the representation of Britannia with the legend above “Britannia set me free” on a scroll, Both the Slave and Britannia are forefront to an ocean scene where a Slave Galleon can be seen in the distance. Nice detailed in the traditional Naive style of the period the Negro slave is formed in Sooted wax with the metal chain attached to hands and ankles with the rest of the rendering being in pure gouache. Interestingly the image of the Kneeling Slave appeared on the title-page of works written in support of the abolitionist cause after Wilberforce’s Bill to abolish the slave trade finally passed in 1807, activists turned their attention to the abolition of slavery and the image of the of the enchained, crouching slave was adapted for a new use, the image came to symbolize slavery generally and allude to the earlier triumph of the campaign to abolish the slave trade and hint that a similar result awaits the anti-slavery campaign. The reverse to the frame retains original paper backing with provenance in the form of a hand written series of exerts from The Bible Isiah 45.11. The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and those tall Sabeans they will come over to you and will be yours, they will trudge behind you, coming over to you in chains, they will bow down before you and plead with you, saying’Surely God is with you and there is no other, there is no other god. This fine antique piece Makes for an interesting window into History, certainly Museum quality and pertaining to a Time Where England was still leading the way in Humanitarian capacities and indeed changing the world. The Frame measures 9 cm in diameter with a depth of roughly 2 cm, all in all well preserved and in undamaged condition. Weight : 93.6 grams.
