James Barry

King Lear Weeping over the Dead Body of Cordelia

1786–8

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In Tate Britain

Walk Through British Art: 1780

Free entry
Artist
James Barry 1741–1806
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 2692 × 3670 mm
frame: 3026 × 4050 × 195 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased 1962
Reference
T00556

Display caption

Barry was a passionate champion of neo-classical history painting on a vast scale. After initial success he became a martyr to its cause, dying neglected and convinced of the hostility of the art establishment. This is one of Barry's most ambitious paintings, made for Alderman Boydell's 'Shakespeare Gallery', a collection of engraved scenes from Shakespeare by celebrated artists of the day. Boydell held an exhibition of the original pictures in 1789. Here, a heartbroken Lear supports the body of his beloved daughter Cordelia. Barry has set the tragic scene in an heroic landscape with Stonehenge in the background.

Gallery label, September 2004

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