A Lost Cause: Flight of King James II after the Battle of the Boyne 1888
Dimensions: support: 1181 x 1511 mm frame: 1615 x 1950 x 135 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Andrew Carrick Gow painted this scene, A Lost Cause: Flight of King James II after the Battle of the Boyne. Editor: Oh, that title feels so heavy as my eyes are drawn to the distant ship, a stark symbol of escape, against that overcast sky. Curator: Indeed. Gow is quite interested in this moment of political transition, isn't he? This painting, now held at the Tate, really portrays James II's departure as the end of an era. Editor: It's more than that, though. The subdued palette almost whispers defeat. The figures are crowded, yet isolated. It’s like a stage, and the actors know the play’s over. Curator: Absolutely. Gow captures the complex dynamic between public duty and personal downfall, doesn't he? Editor: You know, looking at those fleeing figures, I almost feel bad for old James, even knowing the history. And that’s the artist's magic, isn’t it? To conjure empathy from a lost cause. Curator: Yes, it’s a poignant snapshot of a pivotal moment, where personal tragedy meets political upheaval.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/gow-a-lost-cause-flight-of-king-james-ii-after-the-battle-of-the-boyne-n01530
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This painting shows James II fleeing to France after the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. James was a catholic whose short reign (1685-88) was dominated by religious and constitutional controversy. It ended in 1688 when his son-in-law, the protestant William of Orange, invaded and claimed the throne. This event became known as the 'Glorious Revolution' and was widely celebrated as the defining moment in the nation's progress towards parliamentary democracy and religious stability. The Battle of the Boyne was a failed attempt, two years later, to replace James on the throne; he died in exile in 1701. Gallery label, July 2008
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