Divine Justice

Date

ca. 1802

Creator

This was one of two prints that Barry produced around 1802 showing details from the lower ranks of the figures in Elysium and Tartarus [2014.052.003]. The other was The Angelic Guards [2014.052.008] and the two were closely linked. In fact, Barry intended to supply an inscription for the rocks that extended through both plates but never found a suitable quotation. Among other new characters, Barry added the bald head of the Roman general Scipio Africanus, seen frowning at the upper right of the scene. Scipio was meant to reflect the artist’s increasing discouragement with state patronage for the arts. Scipio was known not only as a great soldier who even defeated Hannibal but also as a champion of the role of Rome as protector of Greek culture. He was ultimately defeated by personal and political rivalries. The year after this print was published, Barry declared to the Society of Arts that in his view "British Statesmen & politicians...seem to have had hardly any ideas of these Arts, than from their perversions in gratifying folly, profligacy or malignity" (Barry to the Society of Arts, January 6, 1803; quoted in Pressly, Life and Art, p. 183). from Bindman, No Cross, No Crown: Prints by James Barry from the Collection of William L. and Nancy Pressly (Notre Dame, 2016)