if (label == null) {
            return;  // nothing to do   
        }
        
        Font labelFont = getItemLabelFont(series, item);
        g2.setFont(labelFont);
        Paint paint = getItemLabelPaint(series, item);
        g2.setPaint(paint);

        // find out where to place the label...
        ItemLabelPosition position = null;
        if (!negative) {
            position = getPositiveItemLabelPosition(series, item);
        }
        else {
            position = getNegativeItemLabelPosition(series, item);
        }

        // work out the label anchor point...
        Point2D anchorPoint = calculateLabelAnchorPoint(
                position.getItemLabelAnchor(), bar, plot.getOrientation());
        
        if (isInternalAnchor(position.getItemLabelAnchor())) {
            Shape bounds = TextUtilities.calculateRotatedStringBounds(label, 
                    g2, (float) anchorPoint.getX(), (float) anchorPoint.getY(),
                    position.getTextAnchor(), position.getAngle(),
                    position.getRotationAnchor());
            
            if (bounds != null) {
                if (!bar.contains(bounds.getBounds2D())) {
                    if (!negative) {
                        position = getPositiveItemLabelPositionFallback();
                    }
                    else {
                        position = getNegativeItemLabelPositionFallback();
                    }
                    if (position != null) {
                        anchorPoint = calculateLabelAnchorPoint(
                                position.getItemLabelAnchor(), bar, 
                                plot.getOrientation());
                    }
                }
            }
        
        }
        
        if (position != null) {
            TextUtilities.drawRotatedString(label, g2, 
                    (float) anchorPoint.getX(), (float) anchorPoint.getY(),
                    position.getTextAnchor(), position.getAngle(), 
                    position.getRotationAnchor());