Eastern Patriarch, from the first issue of Specimens of Polyautography

Description

Despite its title Eastern Patriarch, Barry’s lithograph directly copies the head of King Lear from his painting King Lear Weeping Over the Body of Cordelia (1786–88), as well as an earlier print of the same subject. Barry’s image of Lear calls to mind the king’s words from Shakespeare’s play: “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow! . . . Singe my white head!”

Medium

Lithograph in black on cream wove paper, tipped onto mount with aquatint border in gray on cream wove paper