Belisarius

The legendary Byzantine general Belisarius, reduced to begging after being blinded on the orders of Emperor Justinian, is the subject of this 1809 history painting at the Royal Academy of Arts. The story of Belisarius was hugely popular in late eighteenth and early nineteenth century art, made famous by Jacques-Louis David"s 1781 version. Shee"s attempt at the subject reflects his ambition to be recognized as more than a portrait painter, though history painting ultimately remained secondary to his portrait practice.

The history painting mode requires a different approach from Shee"s portraits, with dramatic lighting, classical drapery, and theatrical gesture replacing the restrained conventions of the likeness. The palette is darker and more dramatic than his portrait work, with strong chiaroscuro effects. The composition shows Shee working somewhat outside his natural range—the figure arrangement is competent but lacks the instinctive ease of his portrait compositions.