Artwork

First Landing of the Royal Artillery in the Bosphorus. from the Mercia In the distance is the barrack Kooleli, and the Terrible on her return to the Black Sea

First Landing of the Royal Artillery in the Bosphorus. from the Mercia In the distance is the barrack Kooleli, and the Terrible on her return to the Black Sea is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Edwin Weedon. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The watercolor records the initial disembarkation of the Royal Horse Artillery on the Bosphorus on 3 May 1854.

About this work

Overview

The watercolor records the initial disembarkation of the Royal Horse Artillery on the Bosphorus on 3 May 1854. In the foreground the transport ship Mercia carries Captain Levinge’s left division, while a second vessel, No. 21, follows. The scene captures the moment the British artillery began to unload its equipment in the strait.

Subject & Meaning

The composition emphasizes the logistical effort of moving heavy ordnance ashore, showing workers and horses maneuvering cannons onto carts. The distant steamship Terrible, turning back toward the Black Sea, underscores the ongoing naval operations supporting the Crimean campaign.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolor with rapid, sketch‑like lines and a restrained palette, the work conveys immediacy. The artist’s loose handling of form and muted tones suggest a field sketch, likely begun by an officer on site and later refined by Edwin Weedon for publication.

History & Provenance

After its creation, the image was reproduced in the Illustrated London News, bringing the event to a wider public. The original resides in the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains part of the museum’s collection of 19th‑century military illustrations.

Context

The landing took place during the early phase of the Crimean War, when the Ottoman government allocated the barracks at Kooleli for the British artillery. The arrival of the Mercia and its cargo marked a significant logistical step in establishing a foothold on the Bosphorus for the allied forces.