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Balaclava
painting
Butler, Lady Elizabeth Southerden
Europe, United Kingdom, England
1876
1898.13
Oil Paint on canvas
103.4 x 187.5 cm
Balaclava 1876
Elizabeth Thompson, Lady Butler 1846-1933
Oil on canvas
'Balaclava' was a major battle of the Crimean War,
fought between British and Russian forces.
Thompson's painting represents the aftermath
of the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade of 1854,
when a misinterpreted order led to heavy British losses:
661 cavalrymen were reduced to 195 in 20 minutes.
The subject became a favourite for painters
after Tennyson's poem The Charge of the Light Brigade.
This was quoted by Thompson in the catalogue
accompanying her work's debut at the Society of Arts.
The central figure was modelled by WH Pennington,
an actor who had taken part in the action.
Other veterans were also consulted and used as models.
Thompson's portrayal of the soldiers was controversial
as it focused on the psychological effects of war.
The painting was seen by thousands, at several venues,
and was further popularised by large editions of prints.
Although it was unusual for a woman to paint war,
the artist was praised by the Army for her accuracy.
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