The Effect of Disobedience 

James Ward painted this scene, titled *The Effect of Disobedience*, in Britain in the early 19th century. Ward was a noted animal painter, and in this image, he turns his skill towards a dramatic depiction of a biblical narrative. Here we see the prophet slain by a lion for disobeying God's command. But it's important to remember that this was a time of great religious and social change in Britain. Evangelical movements emphasized personal piety and strict adherence to moral codes. Ward’s painting would have been viewed as a cautionary tale, reinforcing the importance of obedience to religious authority at a time when that authority was being questioned. To understand paintings like this fully, we need to look at religious texts, social histories, and even the biographies of the artists themselves. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.