Rare Gouache Painting Abolition Of Slavery Britannia Set Us Free Antique Georgian circa 1820

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 passing 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.

The image adapts the iconic design of the crouching figure with the motto “Am I not a man and a brother” first produced as a jasperware medallion by Wedgwood in 1788, the formation of Thomas Clarkson’s Committee for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1787, “marked the transition of what had hitherto been the Quaker cause of abolition into a national, even an international movement, the emblem of the campaign designed by the master potter Josiah Wedgwood, a committed supporter of the movement was an inspired piece of propaganda, the image had an immediate impact, for example women wore the jasperware medallions as necklaces or transformed them into bracelets, lace pins or brooches to identify themselves with the abolitionist cause.

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. 14 
“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 or 3.5 inches with a depth of roughly 2 cm or 0.8 inches, all in all well preserved and undamaged condition.

weight : 93.6 grams or 3.30 ounces