Bringing into relief the singularity of Barry's unswerving commitment to his vision for history painting despite adverse cultural, political and commercial currents, this title features essays on Barry and his contemporaries that offer fresh perspectives on the painter's life and career. 'Absorbing, varied, meticulous, convincing - these essays will constitute the monument of Barry scholarship for a long time to come.' Michael Charlesworth, University of Texas at Austin, USA 'The book will be an indispensable resource for scholars of eighteenth-century British painting, patronage, aesthetics, and political history.' University College Cork News 'This specialist book makes a welcome addition to our understanding of this controversial figure.' The Art Newspaper 'There can be no doubt that this volume is a hugely valuable addition to Barry studies and to the literature of later eighteenth-century British art in general, and Ashgate should be congratulated on publishing a book as potentially uncommercial as Barry's art proved in his lifetime.' The Burlington Magazine 'This edited volume [...] offers much needed scholarship on an overlooked artist, given the quality of his ambitious oeuvre... The book is undoubtedly an erudite and highly valuable authoritative reference book for students and scholars who want to look into Barry's achievements.' Miranda '[The volume's] scholarship is impressive, its writing stimulating, and its approaches engaging. Blakeans will benefit from these lively discussions of another renegade artist.' Blake/An Illustrated Quarterly