Artwork
The Camp of Stothard, Blake, Ogleby

The Camp of Stothard, Blake, Ogleby is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Thomas Stothard. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
The artist used a needle to scratch lines into metal, then inked it—etching gives soft shadows here.
You see ink on paper showing a busy military camp. Tents and soldiers fill the scene in careful rows. The artist used a needle to scratch lines into metal, then inked it—etching gives soft shadows here.
This print feels like a snapshot from 1780. The artist packed the scene with details: soldiers chatting, horses tied up, flags flapping. It’s not a grand battle, just everyday camp life.
Look up Stothard, Thomas next.
Overview
Thomas Stothard’s early etching, titled *The Camp of Stothard, Blake, Ogleby* and dated around 1780, presents a compact view of a military encampment. Rendered in ink on paper, the print captures rows of tents, soldiers, horses and fluttering flags, offering a quiet glimpse of daily camp routine rather than a dramatic battlefield scene.
Subject & Meaning
The composition includes likenesses of three contemporary artists—Thomas Stothard himself, William Blake, and Samuel Wale—positioned among the soldiers. Their presence suggests a playful self‑portraiture and a commentary on the mingling of artistic and military life in late‑18th‑century Britain, emphasizing camaraderie and observation over heroic narrative.
Technique & Style
Stothard employed traditional copper‑plate etching, incising the design with a needle before applying ink and pressing it onto paper. The method yields fine lines and subtle gradations of shadow, evident in the soft modeling of tents and the delicate rendering of flags, while the overall arrangement remains orderly and detailed.
History & Provenance
Created during Stothard’s formative years as a painter, illustrator and engraver, the print reflects his early involvement in the artistic networks of the period. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work has been catalogued as part of Stothard’s early print output and is referenced in studies of his pre‑established career.
Context
The late 1770s and early 1780s saw a flourishing of collaborative circles among British artists, with Stothard, Blake and Wale frequently interacting. This etching, by depicting them within a military setting, mirrors contemporary interests in genre scenes that blend everyday life with the identities of notable cultural figures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Stothard (17 August 1755 – 27 April 1834) was a British painter, illustrator and engraver.






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