John Martin's "The Bard" (Essay Sample)

Student's Name Professor's Name Course Number Date John Martin's "The Bard" The Bard by John Martin presents a highly romanticized view of the medieval subject. He depicts in the painting the Welsh uprising against English control. English King Edward I expanded his conquest into Wales and successfully maintained control over the country's independence by enforcing English law and repressing Welsh culture and language. It is thought that Edward suppressed the Welsh bards during this time, stopping them from utilizing their influence to inspire other insurrections and rebellions. In the left middle ground, we can see the castle modeled after the one at Harlech and set on rocks. With their banners spread out, Edward's riders can be seen in the left foreground charging along the valley wall like a swarm of ants. The bard is seen cursing his pursuers from the top of the cliff on the other side of the swiftly running river as he jumps off the edge and dies. The final remaining bard is seen in John Martin's painting, standing on a lofty ledge. Before he launches himself from the rock and meets his demise, he curses the Edward army below. After escaping an English King Edward I-ordered massacre, the painting shows a lone Welsh bard trekking across craggy peaks above a mountain river. As seen in the artwork across the river, Edward's forces are just making their way away from the murder site, which is still blazing with catastrophic fire. The painting represents a cultural revolt. After defeating the Welsh, Edward concluded that all bards, or professional poets, posed a threat if they were permitted to propagate tales of the former power of the Welsh, as this may inspire the conquered Welsh to rebel against their English overlords. The painting depicts the destiny of the last remaining bard, who is b...