Further Lots Offered in Aid of Waterloo Uncovered

London –Take one of the most famous battles in British military history, add the 19th century's finest painter of military scenes, and the result is bound to be memorable. The battle was Waterloo, the artist, Lady Elizabeth Butler and the painting is Dawn of Waterloo, The 'Reveille' in the bivouac of the Scots Greys on the morning of the battle, which is to be offered at Bonhams Napoleon: The British Sale in London on Wednesday 27th October. Never before offered at auction, it has been in the family of the artist since it was painted in 1895. Estimated at £80,000-120,000, the work is being sold on behalf of the Falkland Stewardship Trust in Fife which supports education in the stewardship of heritage, culture and the environment.

The painting shows young troopers of the 2nd Royal North British Dragoons – Scots Greys – awakening on the morning of 18th June 1815. Later that day they were to take part in the heroic charge of the Union Brigade which, at first successful, ended in terrible losses for the British.

Bonhams Director of 19th Century Paintings, Peter Rees, said: "Dawn of Waterloo is a fine and moving painting by an artist at the height of her powers. It captures the stoic virtue with which Elizabeth Butler's soldiers are so often imbued, but in contrast to her depiction of the charge of the Union Brigade itself – her most famous painting Scotland for Ever – there is a great sensitivity to this work. In Butler's own words, it was 'never painted for the glory of war, but to portray its pathos and heroism'."

Elizabeth Thompson (1846-1933), later Lady Butler, trained as an artist both in London and Florence. She showed an early interest in military subjects and her breakthrough work The Roll Call, of 1874, achieved critical praise and popular success when exhibited at the Royal Academy in the same year. It was later bought by Queen Victoria.
Butler started work on Dawn of Waterloo at her home in Ireland in 1893 but it was completed in Aldershot where her husband, Colonel, Sir William Butler, was commanding the 2nd Infantry Brigade. She made good use of the Brigade's soldiers and her sketches produced during this time show some of the focal figures slumbering and awakening.

Waterloo Uncovered

A number of other lots in the sale are being sold to benefit the work of Waterloo Uncovered. The charity runs courses at the site of the Battle of Waterloo giving serving and ex-service military personnel suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder the opportunity to take part in excavations and analysis of archaeological finds.
Items in the sale include:
• Four paintings depicting aspects of the Battle of Waterloo by the Spanish artist Jose Clauzel (born 1961), including Vive L'Empereur. Each work is estimated at £5,000-7,000.
• Force the Gates by the contemporary British painter Chris Collingwood. Estimate: £10,000-15,000.
• A private lecture with Professor Michael Clarke, former Director General of the Royal United Services Institute, on the tactics of the battle of Waterloo followed by dinner at the Cavalry and Guards Club, Piccadilly for six guests.

25 October 2021