No. 12 "The Reign of Justice" [From 'The Great War: Britain's Efforts And Ideals shown in a series of lithographic prints: 'The Ideals' series]

Artist Edmund J Sullivan (1869 - 1933)

Date1917

MediumLithograph on paper

Dimensions68.6 x 44.5 cm

ClassificationsPrint

Credit LineCollection & image © Hugh Lane Gallery. Donated by the British Ministry of Information.

Object number467

DescriptionThis is a five colour planographic print (lithograph) on paper, and is part of a series entitled 'The Great War: Britain's Efforts And Ideals shown in a series of lithographic prints: 'The Ideals' series. There are a total of 12 lithographs in this particular series, and in total there are ten series. The lithographs are numbered as if the entire ten series are one, so this print is number 12.

The Reign of Justice is a five colour planographic print on paper, completed by E.J. Sullivan in 1917. It forms part of the Ideals series. Sullivan’s lithograph depicts the figure of Justice standing in front of a group of men, including a Native American, a sheik, a judge, an African and an American soldier. From Roman mythology, Justice is an allegorical personification of moral force in judicial systems. She holds a double edged sword in her right hand and a set of balancing scales in her left. In war propaganda, women often serve as the embodiment of the nation. Justice frequently appears in war time posters, as does Marianne, Liberty and Britannia. These symbols evoke virtue and the fertility of the nation whilst appearing both demure and combative. E.J. Sullivan’s illustrative background meant that he was an excellent draughtsman, capable of rendering line and colour to a high effect. In this lithograph we see the flowing fabric of Justice’s gown which catches the glowing light present in the piece. An ethereal light emanates from the rainbow, seen overhead in the sky, catching the white wig and robes of the judge and the feathers of the Native American’s headdress alike. Often used as a symbol of peace, the rainbow has Christian undertones and appears in the biblical fable of the Great Flood, sent by God to seal the alliance between man and nature. In the foreground there are two babies. Crawling at the feet of Justice they have no identifiable attributes and appear as putti, secular and ambiguous. The presence of children and maternal figure of Justice serve to further emphasise images of the peaceful home life threatened by the enemy. They remind the viewer of the necessity to fight and have a mobilising effect on troops and their female counterparts at home, taking part in untraditional roles such as manufacturing arms for the front.
Ruth Keating 2014

It depicts the figure of justice standing in front of a group of men, including a Native American, a sheik, a judge, an African and an American solder. In the foreground there are two babies. There is a rainbow overhead in the sky.

Sullivan earned his reputation as an illustrator, illustrating many books and magazines.

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