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Auction 104, Lot 645

"[Lot of 4] Prints of the Crimea War", Simpson, William

Subject: Military

Period: 1855 (dated)

Publication: The Seat of War in the East

Color: Printed Color

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Four very finely rendered double-tinted military/battle scenes. These images are the larger folio size and include: 1) Excavated Church in the Caverns at Inkermann - Looking West, Plate 33; 2) Sebastopol from the Rear of the English Batteries; 3) A Quiet Night in the Batteries - A Sketch in the Greenhill Battery (Major Chapman's) 29th Jany. 1855: and 4) The Valley of the Shadow of Death - Caves in the Woronzoff Road Behind the 21st Gun Battery, Plate 36. This view was described in a famous poem, "Into the Valley of Death roade the four hundred…" All images about 17 x 11" on larger sheets. William Simpson, artist and war correspondent, was born in Glasgow in 1823. After the Crimean war broke out he was sent to the region to make sketches on the spot. Arriving in Balaclava in November 1854, he remained with the British army until the fall of Sebastopol. Simpson is considered the pioneer war-artist, and received several commissions to paint images of the war for the queen. A lot of four chromolithographs.

References:

Condition: B

All with full margins except the first. A few marginal tears and soiling in #2 & 3. Number four has closed tear in wide margin.

Estimate: $450 - $500

Sold for: $325

Closed on 9/10/2003

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