| Creator |
Worthington, William Henry, ca. 1795-ca. 1839 engraver. |
| Contributor |
Smirke, Robert, 1752-1845 artist. |
| Title |
[Justice and Britannia.] [graphic] / R. Smirke, R. A. pinx. ; Worthington sculp. |
| Publisher |
London: Pub. by R. Bowyer, Pall Mall |
| Publisher |
ENGLAND. London. 1814 |
| Date |
Dec. 1, 1809 |
| Physical Description |
1 print: engraving; image 17 x 14 cm (6.5 x 5.5 in) |
| Description |
An allegorical figure representing Justice hovers over the figure of Britannia, who is seated on a throne with a slave kneeling
and praying at her feet. Although the slave wears shackles around his wrists and ankles, it is unclear whether his chains
have been broken or remain intact. Behind him, a mother and child gesture toward Britannia. Ostensible subject of the engraving
is Britain's renounciation of slavery. It accompanies the following lines in Montgomery's poem: "Britannia, -- she who scathed
the crest of Spain, / And won the trident sceptre of the main, / When to the raging wind, and ravening tide, / She gave the
huge Armada's scatter'd pride, / Smit by the thunder-wielding hand that hurl'd / Her vengeance round the wave-encircled world;
/ -- She shared the gain, the glory, and the guilt, / By her were Slavery's island-altar's built, / And fed with human victims;
-- till the cries / Of blood, demanding vengeance from the skies, / Pierced her proud heart, too long in vain assail'd; /
But justice in one glorious hour prevail'd : / Straight from her limbs the tyrant's garb she tore, / Spotted with pestilence,and
thick with gore; / O'er her own head with noble fury broke / The grinding fetters, and the galling yoke, / Then plunged them
in th' abysses of the sea, / And cried to weeping Africa -- 'Be free!' (p. 19-20)
|
| Is part of |
Montgomery, James, 1771-1854. Abolition of the slave trade. London: Printed by T. Bensley, for R. Bower, the proprietor, 1814. |
| Notes |
Plate in James Montgomery's Abolition of the Slave Trade: A Poem, in Four Parts (London: Printed by T. Bensley, for R. Bower,
the proprietor, 1814), p. 18.
|
|
Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Anti-Slavery Imagery. |
| Subject |
Slaves -- Emancipation -- Great Britain. |
|
Slavery -- Law and legislation -- Great Britain. |
| Genre |
Engravings -- 1810-1820. |
|
Book illustrations -- 1810-1820. |
|
Anti-slavery prints -- 1810-1820. |
|
Allegorical prints -- 1810-1820. |
| Location |
Library Company of Philadelphia| Books & Other Texts | Rare | *Am 1814 Mon 13197.Q p 18 |
| Accession number |
13197.Q |
