Normand was a London-based painter of classical, historical
and biblical subjects, later turning to Orientalist pictures, most especially
harem scenes, typically with more than a touch of the voyeuristic. Painter
of the Royal Exchange fresco "King John Granting the Magna Carta".
This painting was conserved in 2001 with the aid of a grant from North West
Museums Service.
Here,
the Babylonian Queen Vashti has been cast out of her palace for refusing to
parade in front of the King's male friends.
She will not be treated as a trophy wife - she has too much dignity and belief
in herself.
But should we feel sorry for her, or loathe her reliance on the Black bare-breasted
slave at the foot of her bed?
Is this just an example of the oppressed oppressing the oppressed?
"She
goes on and she goes on, and she never shuts up about how women are nothing
but lower class citizens, lower - class - citizens hello! what do you think
I am? 'Women Must have equal rights,' she has the white-faced nerve to say,
Well, my poor mistreated darling, am I a not a woman too? Lower class citizens,
ha! Inclusion don't mean squat to me, democracy don't mean squat to me, her
ladyship has me running around night and day and it's a walloping for me if
I don't stay sharp to the movement of her whims and moods ha! she don't fool
me, I know what it would be if all her dreams came true, it would be: you sweet
sisters can kiss my ass I've got my husband's job at last! "
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