George II at the Battle of Dettingen. 'George dismounted, drew his sword and put himself at the head of the troops exclaiming: "Now, boys, now for the honour of England: fire and behave bravely, and the French will soon run."'

Details

Ernest Crofts, R.A. (1847-1911)
George II at the Battle of Dettingen. 'George dismounted, drew his sword and put himself at the head of the troops exclaiming: "Now, boys, now for the honour of England: fire and behave bravely, and the French will soon run."'
signed and dated 'E.Crofts 1881' (lower right) and indistinctly inscribed (on an old label on the reverse)
oil on canvas
27 3/8 x 50¼ in. (69.6 x 127.7 cm.)

Provenance

N. Mitchell; Christie's, London, 11 December 1942, lot 86 (50 gns to Newman).

Literature

Art Journal, 1881, p. 187.

Exhibited

London, Royal Academy, 1881, no. 101.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

The battle of Dettingen, fought on 27 June 1743, is noteworthy as the last occasion on which a British sovereign led his troops into battle. The Art Journal commented that 'Mr Crofts has done well to commemorate the incident'.

The battle took place during the War of the Austrian Accession, during which the Austrian Empire suffered hostilities from both Prussia and France. George II, King of England and Elector of Hanover, led a combined force of British, Hanoverian and Austrian troops and defeated the French army.

Crofts was a rival of Richard Caton Woodville who also specialised in military scenes. They studied together in Düsseldorf under Hünten, himself a pupil of the renowned battle painter Horace Vernet.

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