British Artists and War

British Artists and War examines in detail the artistic inspiration an response to wars throughout the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, including the Napoleonic wars and Waterloo, the Crimea, the Zulu War and the Edwardian period to the Opening of the Great War in 1914.The author, Peter Harrington, discusses popular themes and imagery in military art and suggests reasons why certain wars failed to inspire representation on canvas. He follows the development of the genre, from early diagrammatic sketches to portraiture and history painting, and traces the debate on the respective merits of glorification of the subject and realism: the schools of 'truth in spirit' and of exactly accurate portrayal of events and scenes were deeply divided.The works of the leading artists of the period are analysed, as well as the influence of Continental artist on British art. The public response to these prints was closely linked with their accessibility, and the author gives details of exhibitions, panoramas and appearances in the illustrated press, and also cites contemporary printed evaluations and criticism relating to these events.
The major illustrated papers of the 19thcentury established their own artists at the battlefields thus providing graphic material of war for a large audience at home.