s The Progress of Civilsation: The Ancient Britons instructed by the Romans in the Mechanical Arts - Hull Museums Collections

The Progress of Civilsation: The Ancient Britons instructed by the Romans in the Mechanical Arts

Briggs studied at the Royal Academy in 1811 and exhibited there from 1814 to 1844. Initially he specialised in uplifting historical subjects, on a large scale. These included themes from Shakespeare and English history. He eventually gave this up in favour of portraits. The Duke of Wellington was one of his famous sitters. As ‘Baron Briggs’ he was ranked first by Thackeray in his List of Best Victorian Painters. The central theme in this painting is the relationship between the noble savages (Britons) and their mentors (Romans). The Britons are shown in archetypal ‘native’ costume, partially covered with animal skins. They gaze at a symbol of civilised life, presented by a Roman. Briggs offers a 19th century interpretation of what these people looked like. Much of this was based on the Bible and classical texts. The painting was formerly owned by John Vincent Thompson, a Hull merchant, who presented it to the Hull Mechanics Institute in 1832 where it occupied pride of place.