F. Stacpoole after Elizabeth Butler - Late 19thC The Return From Balaclava

Description

An impressively sized engraving with mezzotint after the original painting by Lady Elizabeth Butler. The scene shows the harrowing aftermath of The Charge Of The Light Brigade.

Soldiers on horseback and on foot make their way up a hill, towards the viewer, in various states of injury, some still carrying standards. In the foreground, centre, a soldier stands gazing into the distance, an expression of shock on his face, carrying a bloodied sword in his right hand. On the left, mounted survivors and men on foot are gathered together, some of the wounded being helped along. More soldiers make their way up the hill on the right. To the right of the central figure, a mounted soldier rides forward carrying an injured trumpeter in his arms. The distressed horse of the wounded rider next to him is lead forward by a man on foot.

Butler has signed in graphite to the lower left corner and the engraver, Frederick Stacpoole has signed in graphite to the lower right.The engraving is handsomely presented in an early 20th Century oak frame with a gilt slip. There is a framer's label at the reverse.

On chin colle laid to wove.

Condition

In overall good condition. Minor discolouration to the chin colle. The original plate lines are intact. There is a watermark to the right edge of the backing wove. The frame is in fine condition with only a small loss to the lower right corner.

Size

50.5 x 95.5cm (19.9" x 37.6")
Framed Size: 89 x 131.3cm (35" x 51.7")

Artist Biography

Elizabeth Southerden Thompson (3 November 1846 – 2 October 1933), later known as Lady Butler, was a British painter who specialised in painting scenes from British military campaigns and battles, including the Crimean War and the Napoleonic Wars. Her notable works include The Roll Call (purchased by Queen Victoria), The Defence of Rorke's Drift, and Scotland Forever! (showing the Scots Greys at Waterloo). She wrote about her military paintings in an autobiography published in 1922: "I never painted for the glory of war, but to portray its pathos and heroism". She was married to British Army officer Sir William Butler, becoming Lady Butler.

Most of Stacpoole's plates were executed in a mixed mezzotint style (i.e. mezzotint with some line engraving and stipple engraving). His work was only of reproductions.

Stacpoole's first Royal Academy exhibit (1842) was an oil portrait, and the exhibited six other paintings (portrait, subject, and landscape) at the Academy between 1843 and 1869, but from 1858 to 1893 his regular contributions were engravings. the also exhibited paintings at the Society of British Artists between 1841 and 1845. During the last ten years of his life the again took up painting, sending five small subject pictures to the Royal Academy between 1894 and 1899.