Figure 1.-- As far as we know, the first such image was a drawing by Johann Moritz Rugendas (1802-58), a German artist interested in ethnographic subjects. He traveled extensively in Latin America and depicted African slaves in Brazil, often being accused of sugar cating their conditiuon. He exhibited it in the Paris Salon (1827). As far as we know, this is the first treal depiction of the nauseating reality of the slave trade, showing conditions on a slaver. And as horrifying as it was, the conditions depicted are surely better than what most captive Africans endured. It attrcted lttle attention, suggesting the weakness of the French Abolitionist Movement.

European artists did not address African slavery and the slave trade until after the Napoleoonic Wars well into the 19th century. And even then, there are very few quality works of art. As far as we know, the first such image was a drawing by Johann Moritz Rugendas (1802-58), a German artist interested in ethnographic subjects. He traveled extensively in Latin America and depicted African slaves in Brazil, often being accused of sugar cating their conditiuon. He exhibited it in the Paris Salon (1827). As far as we know, this is the first treal depiction of the nauseating reality of the slave trade, showing conditions on a slaver. And as horrifying as it was, the conditions depicted are surely better than what most captive Africans endured. It attrcted lttle attention, suggesting the weakness of the French Abolitionist Movement. Slavery was still legal in the French Empire and French slavers still active in the Atlntic. A decade later, an important French artist Auguste-François Biard (1798-1882) painted a large, detailed work (mow lost) of slaves being sold when a slver landed some where in the America, probably Brazil (1835). He had trouble selling it. Not to be deterred. He painted another large work, the painting seen here of slaves being assembled somewhere off West Africa. it was exhibitedin the French Salon (1840). Slavery was still mlegal min the Frebch Empire. This time Biard fecided to exhinit in britain which had a powerful Abokitionist Movement whichhad succeeded iun outlaweing the slave trade (1807) and slavery itself (1835). Biard exhibeted in the Royal Accademy's summer exhibituion (1840). This was just before a meeting of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. J.M.W. Turner may be the only master painter to address the subject. Turner's painting, 'The Slave ship', not coincidentally was shown at the same time. It depicted captive Africans overboard with a hurricane (Turner called it a typhoon) approaching. More commonly. captive Africans were thrown overbpard when a Britih Royal Navy anti-slavey patrol spotted a slaver. Why Turner avoid such a depctioin is unknown. Biard's work attracted cinsiderable favorable attention. Viewers praised it for its realism and avoidence of ideelogica postyring often opresent in abolitionist images. One ssessmnt opraised the pinying for 'reoresenting with fearful accuracy the cattricious deeds of the miscreants who traffic in this abominable trade.' Today woke critics do nnot like the depuctiin if the Africns partiipating in the slave trade or the pacivity of the captive Africans. .

Created: 9:06 PM 8/20/2022
Last updated: 10:35 PM 8/20/2022