Boudica

Exhibited

Origin Art, Johannesburg, The Figure & Histories, 5 to 30 November 2022.

Notes

Sarah Ballam’s dynamic work offers an epic portrayal of Boudica (also known as Boadicea), the Celtic queen who ruled the Iceni tribe of East Anglia and led a revolt against Roman occupation in Ancient Britain around 60–61 CE. Following the death of her husband, the Romans seized Iceni lands and reportedly subjected Boudica and her daughters to brutal mistreatment, prompting her to unite several Celtic tribes in rebellion. Her forces went on to destroy major Roman settlements, including Londinium, before ultimately being defeated by the Roman army. Today, Boudica endures as a British national heroine and a lasting symbol of justice, resistance, and independence.

In the present lot, Ballam employs rich colour saturation and expressive, gestural brushwork to depict the legendary warrior queen on a monumental scale. The artist creates a compelling sense of movement through the dramatic rearing of the two horses as they surge into battle, while Boudica herself remains strikingly composed, becoming a commanding focal point framed by the surrounding chaos of war.

^1. Ben Johnson (no date) Historic UK, Boudica, online, accessed 29 May 2026.