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Napoleonic Wars (1803-15)

Views of naval engagements and maps of battles

THOMAS STAUNTON ST CLAIR (1785-1847)

Pombal, 1811 (Pombal, Leiria, Portugal) 39°55'00N 08°37'42"W

published 1 Nov 1814

Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; hand coloured; edged with paper | 36.8 x 50.4 cm (image) | RCIN 735155.g

A view of the Anglo-Portuguese army, under the command of Lieutenant-General Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington, 1769-1852), marching towards Pombal which has been set on fire by the retreating French army commanded by Marshal Michel Ney (1769-1815). Napoleonic Wars (1803-15): Peninsular War (1808-14).

This print shows the British troops, dressed in red coats, marching along a sunken, or 'hollow' road, The mounted and foot soldiers dressed in green jackets, to the left, are probably the Portuguese army, whose predominant uniform colour was green. The caption to the print states that the army was being directed by Wellington 'in person'. He is probably the mounted figure, on the right, positioned under a tree with another officer, surveying the landscape through a telescope. The rigours of the march have proved too much for a couple of horses which lie exhausted or dead, and for some soldiers who have collapsed.

This is one of a set of twelve prints in the K.Mil. collection (RCINs 735155.a-m) of the principal occurrences of the campaigns in Spain and Portugal in 1810 and 1811 after paintings by Thomas Staunton St Clair. For more information on this set, see RCIN 735155.

For further reading, see:
R. Chartrand, The Portuguese army of the Napoleonic Wars, Oxford, 2013. ;

Condition: no fold lines.
  • Thomas Staunton St Clair (1785-1847) (artist) [bottom left, below edge of view:] Major T. S.t Clair pinx.t

    Charles Turner (1774-1857) (engraverand publisher) [bottom right, below edge of view:] C. Turner sculp.t

    Josiah Boydell (18 January 1752-27 March 1817) (publisher)

    John Booth (active 1794-1840) (publisher)

    Colnaghi & Co (c.1785-1911) (publisher)

    Anthony Molteno (active 1783-1830) (publisher) [bottom centre, below title:] London, Published Nov. 1, 1814, by C. Turner, 50 Warren St. Fitzroy Sq.r Mess.rs Colnaghi, Cockspur Street, M.r Molteno Pall Mall Mess.rs Boydell, Cheapside & M.r Booth, Duke Street, Portland Chapel.

    Subject(s)

    Army-GB
    Army-France
    Army-Portugal
    Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852)
  • Watermark: J WHATMAN [date cropped]

    Condition: no fold lines

  • 33.6 x 50.4 cm (neatline)

    36.8 x 50.4 cm (image)

    41.1 x 57.7 cm (platemark)

    43.7 x 60.2 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    N,,o 7 / The VILLAGE of POMBAL in flames, as evacuated by the French Army under Marshal Massena, and the advance of the Allied Army, / on the morning of the 11.th of March, 1811; Lord Wellington in person directing the movement. [bottom, below view]

    Annotations:

    (Recto) [bottom left, black pencil, in Evelyn Heaton-Smith’s hand:] G.3 [and] XV-155-g. (Verso) [top right, black pencil:] 33; [bottom right, black pencil:] 21/ [i.e. 21 shillings?]; 1811-33.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Spain Twelve Views of the principal occurences of the Campaigns of 1810 and 1811 in Spain and Portugal: by Major T. S.t Clair, engraved by C. Turner, 1812-15.

  • Subject(s)

    Pombal, Leiria, Portugal (39°55'00N 08°37'42"W)

  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    R. Chartrand, The Portuguese army of the Napoleonic Wars, Oxford, 2013

Page revisions

  • 3 November 2024