The Thames, or the Triumph of Navigation 1792 - 1801

James Barry created this print, "The Thames, or the Triumph of Navigation," in England in 1790. It allegorizes London’s River Thames as a muscular god presiding over maritime trade. We see mercantile exchange and naval power celebrated in the figures surrounding the Thames. This distinctly British visual language reflects the economic and political ascendancy of Great Britain. The Royal Academy, where Barry taught, played a crucial role in promoting these national ideals. Here, the political and economic power of empire are inextricably intertwined with a very particular moment in the history of British art. The historian’s task is to unpick such knotty relationships through careful attention to institutional records, political histories, and the visual codes of the time. Only then can we understand the full significance of an artwork like this.