English Heritage has unveiled six fascinating paintings of African people from England’s history. The motive of this act is to reveal the untold stories of these renowned personalities who lost in the past times.
The six paintings include the Roman emperor as well as Queen Victoria’s goddaughter. English Heritage selected six artists for painting portraits and displaying them at locations namely, forts, abbeys, barracks, and historic houses.
Project Aims to Unveil the Unknown Stories of African People
Anna Eavis, English Heritage’s curatorial director, has stated the reason behind this project. According to Anna Eavis, African figures had played a significant role at some of the historic sites that are currently in our care.
But most people don’t really know about them and their contribution to shaping history. Now, the project has come into action to introduce the stories of the forgotten African diaspora in England’s history.
Painters have Chosen their Subjects Enthusiastically
Septimus Severus is one of the subjects in these paintings. He was born in Leptis Magna that is currently the city of Al-Khums in Libya. In his time, he traveled to Britain in 2018 AD208. He is the name who worked for the strengthening of Hadrian’s Wall and the reoccupation of the Antonine Wall.
It helped him expand his empire. Elena Onwochei-Garcia has painted Septimus Severus’ painting. She says it was her multiheritage background that drew him close to Septimus.
She has said that her motive was to go beyond painting Rome’s ‘African Emperor’. Hence, she wanted to portray the complex individual by showing his personality in a clear way. From Wednesday onwards, the portrait is available for everyone at Corbridge Roman Town on Hadrian’s Wall.
Mikéla Henry-Lowe has painted Dido Belle, a black woman who grew up in an aristocratic family. She excitedly grabbed the opportunity to portray Dido Belle. It is because she is a rare black woman who was not shown as a slave in England’s history.
Clifton Powell is the name who has painted Abbot Hadrian. Hadrian was an African scholar in Anglo-Saxon England and also the abbot of St Augustine’s Abbey, Kent. Hannah Uzor has painted the portrait of Sarah Forbes Bonetta.
Bonetta was the daughter of a West African ruler who fell victim to slavery by King Gezo of Dahomey. Next, Chloe Cox has painted Arthur Roberts, who was the son of a Trinidadian man. He was a part of the first world war and he also survived the battle of Passchendaele.
Lastly, James Chappel is the African personality in the sixth painting. Glory Samjolly has painted him in an eloquent manner.
