
The Captive Slave (Ira Aldridge) (1827)
John Philip Simpson (English, 1782-1847)
Acquired by the Art Institute Chicago

John Philip Simpson (1782-1847)
The Captive Slave (Ira Aldridge)
1827
Oil on canvas
127 x 101.5 cm (50 x 40 in)
Art Institute Chicago: Purchased with funds provided by Mary Winton Green, Dan and Sara Green Cohan, Howard and Lisa Green and Jonathan and Brenda Green, in memory of David Green. 2008.188
The Captive Slave (Ira Aldridge) served as a timely abolitionist appeal in the years leading up to the British Emancipation Act of 1833. The figure raises his head and eyes toward the heavens, echoing the poses of Christian saints and martyrs. Using this familiar iconography, artist John Philip Simpson aimed to resonate with wealthy white viewers, appealing to their sentimentality and moral authority to sway public policy.
The deeply moving pose also reflects the artistic contribution of the sitter, Ira Aldridge, a free-born American actor and prominent abolitionist. Born in New York City in 1807, Aldridge built his career in Europe due to racism in the United States. Renowned for his portrayal of Shakespeare’s Othello, Aldridge was known for addressing social issues like abolition during performances. At the time of this painting, he had just starred in "The Slave", a musical drama that may have inspired Simpson’s connection of Aldridge to the abolitionist cause.
Simpson’s portrait not only captures the emotional power of its subject but also underscores the collaboration between artist and sitter in advancing the fight for freedom.