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James Barry

Eastern Patriarch, from the first issue of Specimens of Polyautography

1803
Lithograph in black on cream wove paper, tipped onto mount with aquatint border in gray on cream wove paper
23 × 31.7 cm (9.1 × 12.5 in)

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Despite its title Eastern Patriarch , Barry’s lithograph directly copies the head of King Lear from his painting King Lear Weeping Over the Body of Cordelia (1786–88), as well as an earlier print of the same subject. Barry’s image of Lear calls to mind the king’s words from Shakespeare’s play: “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow! . . . Singe my white head!”

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