On offer: an original (i.e. not a later reproduction) scarce antique print 'Battle of Orthes. Feb 27th 1814'. A view of Cavalry charging against the French infantry at the Battle of Orthez in 1814 during the Peninsular War.
DATE PRINTED: 1815, dated on the print.
SIZE: The printed area including titles is approximately 22 x 18 cm (8.75 x 7.25 inches) plus good margins with a blank back (medium).
ARTIST/CARTOGRAPHER/ENGRAVER: Drawn by William Heath (1794 – 7 April 1840) and engraved by D. Havell. Heath was a British artist who once described himself as a "portrait & military painter". He was best known for his published engravings which included caricatures, political cartoons, and commentary on contemporary life. Heath was born in Northumberland. His early works often dealt with military scenes, including colour plates for The Martial Achievements, The Wars of Wellington, etc., but from about 1820 on he focused on satire. Between 1827 and 1829, many of his works were published under the pseudonym "Paul Pry" (the name of an overly inquisitive stage character in a popular 1825 stage comedy by John Poole); also used the pseudonym Argus. He was described by Dr John Brown, biographer of John Leech as "poor Heath, the ex-Captain of Dragoons, facile and profuse, unscrupulous and clever". Heath helped found an early caricature magazines, The Glasgow Looking Glass (renamed to The Northern Looking Glass after five issues). Heath created a numbered series of political Caricatures between 1830 and 1834 for McLean's Monthly. He died in Hampstead, London.
PROVENANCE: Published in 'The Martial Achievements of Great Britain and her allies from 1799 to 1815' by James Jenkins and published by L Harrison & J C Leigh, 373 Strand. A history of the Napoleonic Wars with plates capturing well the frenzy, action, excitement, horror and heroism of war with astonishing realism.
TYPE: Antique aquatint printed on paper with hand colour.
VERSO: There is nothing printed on the reverse side which is blank.
CONDITION: Very good; suitable for framing. Please check the scan for any blemishes prior to making your purchase. Virtually all antiquarian maps and prints are subject to some normal aging due to use and time which is not significant unless otherwise stated. I offer a no questions asked return policy. Short split in the bottom margin well away from the image.
AUTHENTICITY: This is an authentic antique print, published at the date stated above. I do not offer reproductions. It is not a modern copy. The term 'original' when applied to a print means that it was printed at the first or original date of publication; it does not imply that the item is unique.
RETURNS POLICY: I offer a no questions returns policy. All I ask is that you pay return shipping and mail back to me in original condition.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Battle of Orthez (27 February 1814) saw the Anglo-Spanish-Portuguese Army under Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington attack an Imperial French army led by Marshal Nicolas Soult in southern France. The outnumbered French repelled several Allied assaults on their right flank, but their center and left flank were overcome and Soult was compelled to retreat. At first the withdrawal was conducted in good order, but it eventually ended in a scramble for safety and many French soldiers became prisoners. The engagement occurred near the end of the Peninsular War. In mid-February, Wellington's army broke out of its small area of conquered territory near Bayonne. Moving east, the Allies drove the French back from several river lines. After a pause in the campaign, the westernmost Allied corps surrounded and isolated Bayonne. Resuming their eastward drive, the remaining two Allied corps pushed Soult's army back to Orthez where the French marshal offered battle. In subsequent operations, Soult decided to abandon the large western port of Bordeaux and fall back east toward Toulouse. The next action was the Battle of Toulouse.
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