Artwork
The Battle of Waterloo: The British Squares Receiving the Charge of the French Cuirassiers
The Battle of Waterloo: The British Squares Receiving the Charge of the French Cuirassiers is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux’s 1874 oil on canvas, *The Battle of Waterloo: The British Squares Receiving the Charge of the French Cuirassiers*, presents a densely populated battlefield. The composition captures a pivotal moment when disciplined British infantry squares confront the advancing French heavy cavalry, creating a vivid tableau of movement, conflict, and the chaos of war.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on the clash between British infantry formations, identifiable by their red and blue uniforms, and French cuirassiers, the armored cavalry of Napoleon’s army. By emphasizing the defensive resolve of the squares against the aggressive charge, Philippoteaux underscores the tactical discipline that proved decisive at Waterloo.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the work employs a high level of detail, rendering individual soldiers, horses, and equipment with precise brushwork. Although created after the height of Impressionism, the piece retains a realist approach, using a muted palette for sky and terrain while allowing the vivid colors of uniforms to stand out amid the tumult.
History & Provenance
Philippoteaux, known for large‑scale battle scenes, completed this canvas in 1874. The painting entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of 19th‑century military art, providing scholars and visitors a reference point for visualizing the Waterloo encounter.
Context
The Battle of Waterloo (1815) marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars, and its representation became a popular subject for European artists. Philippoteaux’s depiction aligns with a broader 19th‑century fascination with heroic military narratives, offering a visual record that complements contemporary written accounts of the engagement.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux
Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux (French pronunciation: ; 3 April 1815 – 8 November 1884) was a French artist and illustrator, known primarily as a battle painter.
