Unknown Military Painting

Dave · February 18th, 2011, 01:21 PM

I have a friend who was left a painting by his father. Neither one knew anything about it other than it is a painting of a soldier holding the hand of a fellow soldier who is laying on a dead horse. The standing soldier appears to be wearing a red coat and is clutching a pistol. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

John · February 18th, 2011, 04:36 PM

To me it has the feel of being a British Empire soldier in India or Afghanistan, but that's just a guess. Maybe someone will recognize the uniform and be able to provide some more clues.

I converted the picture to jpg format and enlarged it somewhat:

Dave · February 18th, 2011, 07:49 PM

I agree. I was thinking it might be from the Anglo–Afghan Wars in the 1800's. The artists name has faded off the painting, so I have no idea who the artist was.

John · February 19th, 2011, 01:01 AM

I can't see a lot of fine detail in this reproduction, but it looks like it might be quite a painting. Of course, without a signature it will be pretty hard to ever attribute it with any degree of certainty.

I'll give you a couple of names of artists who were active during this period and specialized in military subjects. The above painting loosely resembles some works I have seen by each. I doubt either is the creator, but you might find it rewarding to research them.

Elizabeth Thompson, Lady Butler

Vasily Vereshchagin

Dave · February 19th, 2011, 05:40 PM

Thank you for the links John. In talking with my friend again, he gave me a newspaper article from years ago where is father had asked for information on the painting. In the article it stated that his father had a friend who had died in 1962 and left him the painting, and that there was no signature, just initials. The painting is very dirty as it hung behind a oil stove for many years. The article did not say what the initials were though.

Dave · 08:14 AM

I got a good look at the front of the painting and the initials appear to be H R, with the R seeming to flow off from the H. The HR is located in the middle of the rock in the lower left corner of the painting, the signature was in the lower right corner but, unfortunately, is now gone.

February 25th, 2011, 02:38 PM	#6
Dave Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4	I got a good look at the front of the painting and the initials appear to be H R, with the R seeming to flow off from the H. The HR is located in the middle of the rock in the lower left corner of the painting, the signature was in the lower right corner but, unfortunately, is now gone. Last edited by Dave : March 7th, 2011 at 08:14 AM.

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February 18th, 2011, 04:36 PM	#2
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,404	To me it has the feel of being a British Empire soldier in India or Afghanistan, but that's just a guess. Maybe someone will recognize the uniform and be able to provide some more clues. I converted the picture to jpg format and enlarged it somewhat:

February 18th, 2011, 07:49 PM	#3
Dave Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4	I agree. I was thinking it might be from the Anglo–Afghan Wars in the 1800's. The artists name has faded off the painting, so I have no idea who the artist was.

February 19th, 2011, 01:01 AM	#4
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,404	I can't see a lot of fine detail in this reproduction, but it looks like it might be quite a painting. Of course, without a signature it will be pretty hard to ever attribute it with any degree of certainty. I'll give you a couple of names of artists who were active during this period and specialized in military subjects. The above painting loosely resembles some works I have seen by each. I doubt either is the creator, but you might find it rewarding to research them. Elizabeth Thompson, Lady Butler Vasily Vereshchagin

February 19th, 2011, 05:40 PM	#5
Dave Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4	Thank you for the links John. In talking with my friend again, he gave me a newspaper article from years ago where is father had asked for information on the painting. In the article it stated that his father had a friend who had died in 1962 and left him the painting, and that there was no signature, just initials. The painting is very dirty as it hung behind a oil stove for many years. The article did not say what the initials were though.