In May of 1904, Anthony Comstock arrested Joseph Levy and his son Emanuel on the charge of selling obscene pictures. One of the pictures was “The Slave Market” by John-Leon Gerome. In an article headlined COMSTOCK LOOSE AGAIN, the reporter noted, “Comstock said it did not make any difference whether they had been in the [Paris] salon or not. He said that he once secured convictions on seven pictures which were copies of exhibits in the salon of ’75, and that they were confirmed by Supreme Court Justice [John R.] Brady, who is an art connoisseur.”
Gerome did at least four paintings of slave markets; shown are the two most likely candidates.
Anthony Comstock, Postal Inspector 