




Earliest known painting (oil on panel) of Easter Island statues (Moai) by HMS Rendezvous artist, William Hodge


This painting by George W. Joy painted a fictional depiction of, The Death of General Gordon, Khartoum, 26 January 1885 Choosing to paint him as a hero when as the indigenous people of Sudan fought against colonial rule and killed him during the Mahdist Wars in a rare imperial defeat. After his death, British soldiers looted and took artefacts under the guise of avenging his death. The violent resistance also led to a more aggressive military response from Britain, ultimately resulting in tighter colonial governance over Sudan. Today the British Museum still retains many Sudanese artefacts and today Sudan is facing a famine.
Petition here


