.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
WELLINGTON SHIELD
The inset print depicts the design for the magnificent 'Wellington shield' commissioned in 1814 and presented to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington by the Merchants and Bankers of the City of London in 1822. The massive gilt-silver shield, intended for sideboard display, was among the many gifts presented in gratification to the nation's hero. The shield, which remains at Apsley House in London, was executed by silversmiths Benjamin Smith II and his son working for the retailers Green, Ward and Green. It was designed by Thomas Stothard who was undoubtedly inspired by the equally impressive shield of Achilles by his friend John Flaxman after descriptions in Homer's Iliad. The central image glorifies Wellington while the border portrays the major battles of his Peninsular campaign in chronological order. A preliminary drawing at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London comprises twelve outer compartments while the final outer design comprises only ten campaigns (the designs for nine panels sold from the Bill Blass Collection, Sotheby's, New York, October 2003, lot 4):
* The Battle of Assaye, September 23, 1803
* The Battle of Vimeiro, August 21, 1808
* The Battle of the Douro, Oporto Liberated, May 12, 1809
* The Lines of Torres Vedras, March 6, 1811
* Badajoz Assaulted and Taken, April 6, 1812
* The Battle of Salamanca, July 22, 1812
* The Battle of Vittoria, June 21, 1813
* The Battle of the Pyrenees, Bordeaux Delivered, October 9, 1813 and January 12-13, 1814
* The Entrance into Toulouse, April 12, 1814
* Dukedom of Wellington Conferred, 1814
An etching of the Wellington Shield sold Christie's, London, 1-2 July 1993, lot 202.
THOMAS STOTHARD (1755-1834)
Stothard, a Royal Academy trained painter, was one of the most prolific and successful illustrators and designers capitalizing on the progressing industrialization and mass production of the time. In 1779, he began a career illustrating poems and novels, also producing ceramic designs for Josiah Wedgwood and metalwork designs for Rundell and Bridge among others, while painting a series of Shakespearean subjects for Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery. He even decorated various interiors (including the staircase at Burghley House, Lincolnshire) and prepared designs for Buckingham Palce which were not executed due to the untimely death of the king, George IV. In 1812, he was appointed Librarian to the Royal Academy.
The inset print depicts the design for the magnificent 'Wellington shield' commissioned in 1814 and presented to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington by the Merchants and Bankers of the City of London in 1822. The massive gilt-silver shield, intended for sideboard display, was among the many gifts presented in gratification to the nation's hero. The shield, which remains at Apsley House in London, was executed by silversmiths Benjamin Smith II and his son working for the retailers Green, Ward and Green. It was designed by Thomas Stothard who was undoubtedly inspired by the equally impressive shield of Achilles by his friend John Flaxman after descriptions in Homer's Iliad. The central image glorifies Wellington while the border portrays the major battles of his Peninsular campaign in chronological order. A preliminary drawing at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London comprises twelve outer compartments while the final outer design comprises only ten campaigns (the designs for nine panels sold from the Bill Blass Collection, Sotheby's, New York, October 2003, lot 4):
* The Battle of Assaye, September 23, 1803
* The Battle of Vimeiro, August 21, 1808
* The Battle of the Douro, Oporto Liberated, May 12, 1809
* The Lines of Torres Vedras, March 6, 1811
* Badajoz Assaulted and Taken, April 6, 1812
* The Battle of Salamanca, July 22, 1812
* The Battle of Vittoria, June 21, 1813
* The Battle of the Pyrenees, Bordeaux Delivered, October 9, 1813 and January 12-13, 1814
* The Entrance into Toulouse, April 12, 1814
* Dukedom of Wellington Conferred, 1814
An etching of the Wellington Shield sold Christie's, London, 1-2 July 1993, lot 202.
THOMAS STOTHARD (1755-1834)
Stothard, a Royal Academy trained painter, was one of the most prolific and successful illustrators and designers capitalizing on the progressing industrialization and mass production of the time. In 1779, he began a career illustrating poems and novels, also producing ceramic designs for Josiah Wedgwood and metalwork designs for Rundell and Bridge among others, while painting a series of Shakespearean subjects for Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery. He even decorated various interiors (including the staircase at Burghley House, Lincolnshire) and prepared designs for Buckingham Palce which were not executed due to the untimely death of the king, George IV. In 1812, he was appointed Librarian to the Royal Academy.