“A FEAT OF CHIVALRY, FIERY WITH CONSUMMATE COURAGE, AND BRIGHT FLASHING COURAGE ” 
Prime Minister Disraeli describing the event in the House of Commons

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE 1894

After RICHARD CATON WOODVILLE

verse of Tennyson poem below title.

 Handcoloured photogravure.  Published by Henry Graves & British Art Union 1895 Double matted, glazed, framed, dark-wood and gilt frame. 

   
Image size 20 x 30 1/2"   plate  size: 24 1/2 x 37" ( 62.2 x 77.5 cm.)    Frame : 36 1/4 x 48" 
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  The courage and discipline of the Lancers of the 17th. Light Dragoons is well captured, as the squadron's attempt to remain in line and reform as their number is decimated by the Russian fire, in this justly famous image.
In this original pull from the 1895 plate, the explanation for the pose of the central mounted Lancer is more apparent. For a close inspection shows that, to the left of the horse's head, the Martingale has either been shot, or broken, away and is seen dangling, causing the terrified horse’s head to rise up unexpectedly and the Lancer to pull back sharply on the reigns to remain in control.
The central figure in this dramatic image is believed to be Private James William Wightman (Ca1835-1907), who was severely wounded and taken prisoner in the Charge. He was repatriated in Autumn 1855.
On the left, at the head of the charge, may be seen the imperious Lord Cardigan, sitting calmly as if ‘on parade’, astride ‘Ronald’, his chestnut charger with the white leg. He claimed his thoughts were focused on how to discipline Capt. Nolan, who Cardigan believed was trying to upstage him.
Other details between this original pull and the late impression below, is the prominence of the green Chapska retaining piping on the uniforms of the Light Dragoons and the profuse sweating of rubbed skin on the chest and flanks of the terrified, over-heated & exhausted chargers.

Martingale detail

pte.Wightman detail

Lord Cardigan on Ronald

“IT WAS A DEMMED STUPID THING”
Lord Cardigan after the charge at Balaclava 25 Oct. 1854

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
after R. Caton Woodville 1894

Hand coloured late impression from the original Photogravure plate published Art Publishers Union London 1895.       Four lines of Tennyson’s poem below letters.
Plate size 241/2 x 371/4 " Handsomely framed 35 x 47"  PRICE CODE D   Click here for Price guide   SOLD
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 The Thomas Ross Company were the original printers of this photogravure, this handcoloured image is a late impression from the original 1895 plate. After the famous 1894 painting by R. Caton Woodville, it is a dramatic view of the brave men of the 17th. Lancers and the 13th. Light Dragoons, with the 11th. Hussars doubled back to form a second line, portrayed as they charge the firing Russian guns. Known as  the Charge of the Light Brigade, an incident that occurred during the battle of Balaklava/Balaclava on 25 October 1854. Lord Cardigan may be seen at the extreme left astride ‘Ronald’, his chestnut charger with the white leg.

As a result of  a misinterpretation of orders a force of upwards of 650 of Britain's finest cavalry was reduced by Russian forces to 195 men in just twenty minutes (actual casualty figures differ, the whole Light Brigade consisted of 658. Some reports quote 673 with 442 total casualties) These figures are surprising when one considers how dangerous it was for a tight formation of cavalry to travel one and a quarter miles along a valley being fired at by canons and rifles from three sides.

At about 2 pm, having received a direct instruction from his superior officer, Lord Cardigan saluted with his sword formed the Brigade into two Lines as follows:1st. Line.— 13th. Light Dragoons on the Right, I7th. Lancers in the Center and 11th. Hussars on the Left.   2nd. Line or Support under Lord George Paget.— 8th.Hussars on the Right, and 4th. Light Dragoons to the left and in a strangely quiet voice uttered the fatal words 'The Brigade will advance,....walk,....march,.... trot'.
It took  just twenty minutes for the charge to become immortalized.

The Relief of the Light Brigade, Balaclava 25th  October 1854
After Richard Caton Woodville (1856-1927), 1897

SCARCE, Original colour lithograph, Glazed, period carved oak-wood frame 
21 ¾ x 32 ½” (55.1 x 85.1 cm)  Frame 26 ¾ x 38 ½”
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The original painting oil on canvas by Richard Caton Woodville 1897 is in the collection of the National Army Museum London. It was originally reproduced as a chromolithograph Supplement to 'Holly Leaves, The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News' Christmas Number 1897, under the title 'The Relief of the Light Brigade' Balaclava October 25 1854.
Of all British military engagements during the nineteenth century, the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaklava remains the most notorious. One of the most spectacular of military disasters, surrounded by controversy as to its cause, the tragic charge of the British light cavalry regiments along the 'valley of death' under murderous fire from the Russian guns was genuinely heroic. The legend of the 'gallant 600' remains deeply rooted in the public mind today, some 150 years later.
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a military action undertaken by British light cavalry against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War, resulting in many casualties to the cavalry. On 25 October 1854, the Light Brigade, led by the command of Major General James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan mounted a frontal assault against a Russian artillery battery which was well-prepared with excellent fields of defensive fire. The charge was the result of a misunderstood order from the commander-in-chief, Lord Raglan, who had intended the Light Brigade to attack a different objective for which light cavalry was better suited, to prevent the Russians from removing captured guns from overrun Turkish positions.
As a result of a misinterpretation of orders a force of upwards of 650 of Britain's finest cavalry was reduced by Russian forces to 195 men in just twenty minutes (actual The charge of the light brigade casualty figures differ, the whole Light Brigade consisted of 658. Some reports quote 673 with 442 total casualties) These figures are surprising when one considers how dangerous it was for a tight formation of cavalry to travel one and a quarter miles along a valley being fired at by canons and rifles from three sides.
Responsibility for the miscommunication is disputed, as the order was vague and Captain Louis Nolan, who delivered the written orders with some oral interpretation, was killed in the first minute of the assault. The Light Brigade made its charge under withering direct fire and reached its target, scattering some of the gunners, but was forced to retreat immediately.
Contemporary pictures of the Charge are few and they fail to convey more than a distant 'bird's-eye view' of the action. It was left to the most dramatic exponent of military art in the late-Victorian era, Richard Caton Woodville, to capture the supreme moment of the Charge, when the British troopers, depleted by the murderous fire of Russian artillery overlooking their route, finally arrived at the far end of the valley to engage with the enemy.

'Into the Valley of Death'   The 17th. Lancers in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava.

John Charlton

Published a a supplement to the Graphic  Christmas number 1906. Off-Set Lithograph after the painting by John Charlton from a sketch by Lord Tredegar (who rode in the charge)  Some vertical creasing, text below image. Matted glazed gilt-wood & gesso frame 15 1/4 x 20 5/8 (38.4 x 52.4 cm.) including letters  Frame:21 x 27" 
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Depicts the units of the 17th. Lancers (Death & Glory Boys) crashing through the Russian canon at the end of the valley and the ensuing melee, as the Russians attempt to remove them. The grim hand-to-hand slaughter amid the confusion of the noise and smoke of battle is well depicted in this scarce image.

The 13th Light Dragoons were also in the front line of the Charge, and their role was no less heroic. Only their appearance was less picturesque - which is perhaps why John Charlton's painting Into the Valley of Death depicts them in the distinctive Chapska of the 17th Lancers instead of the more conventional shakos they would actually have worn.
 
John Charlton (1849–1917) was an English painter and illustrator of historical and especially battle scenes, mainly from contemporary history. Some of which were illustrated in the Graphic. Nonetheless, his paintings are dramatic and well-executed with careful attention to detail, and he certainly ranks among his contemporaries,  Richard Caton Woodville, James Princip Beadle, and William Barnes Wollen as one of Britain's preeminent 'battle' painters of the late Victorian period. 

 

Roger Fenton photograph depicting members of the 13th Light Dragoons who survived the Charge of the Light Brigade. Oct. 1854.