News of Battle. Edinburgh after Flodden 

Thomas Jones Barker created "News of Battle. Edinburgh after Flodden" to capture a moment of profound national grief. Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh, the painting depicts the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Flodden in 1513, a devastating defeat for the Scots against the English. The image is thick with the emotional weight of the devastating news. Barker focuses our attention on the women, who are collapsing with despair, clutching their children as they learn of the death of their husbands, fathers, and sons. The painting thus poignantly reflects the gendered dimensions of warfare, and the disproportionate impact on women and families left behind. The armored messenger on horseback delivers not just news, but a rupture of the social fabric. Barker masterfully conveys a sense of communal mourning, a shared experience of loss that transcends individual stories. This painting prompts us to consider how national tragedies resonate on a personal level, shaping individual and collective identities.