Historical military art prints by William
Barnes Wollen. British military artist, published by Cranston Military Arts
[ British Napoleonic ] [ WWI ] [ Coldstream Guards ]
Artist Information:
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William Barnes Wollen in his studio, 1902. He is
working on the painting of the Imperial Light Horse at Elandslaagte |
WOLLEN, William Barnes. Born Leipzig,
Germany 1857; died London 1936. Along with Woodville and Hillingford, Wollen may be regarded as one of the most
prolific illustrators and artists of battle pictures of the late Victorian/early
Edwardian era. He studied at the Slade School and exhibited his first picture at
the Royal Academy in 1879. Two years later came his first military picture. The
rescue of Private Andrews by Captain Garnet J. Wolseley ... at the storming of
the Motee Mahal, Lucknow. Thereafter, he exhibited over thirty battle and
campaign pictures at Burlington House, his last being in 1922. As was the case
with his contemporaries, Wollen was attracted to the period of the Napoleonic
Wars as a source for many of his pictures such as The Black Watch at bay, Quatre
Bras (The Black Watch), The 28th at Waterloo (Bristol Museum and Art Gallery),
Norman Ramsay at Fuentes Onoro and The 10th Hussars at Benevente. In 1898, he
painted The last stand of the 44th Regiment at Gundamuck, 1842 (National Army
Museum), but for the next five years, he devoted his work to depicting
contemporary events, starting with The 21st Lancers at Omdurman (The Staff
College), although he had painted The Battle of Abu Klea (National Army Museum)
in 1896. During this period, he served in South Africa as a special artist for a
new illustrated paper, The Sphere, and sent back numerous scenes from the war.
Several oil paintings were a direct result of his experiences: The Imperial
Light Horse at Waggon Hill, January 6, 1900, The Imperial Light Horse at
Elandslaagte (Light Horse Regiment, South Africa), The Victoria Cross (Durban
Art Museum) and The 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, storming the Boer
trenches at Pieter's Hill (Queen's Lancashire Regiment).
With the end of the war, Wollen returned to painting retrospective
battle/campaign pictures such as Scouts (The Royal Hussars) showing a patrol of
the 10th Light Dragoons in the Peninsula, Ambushed (Sunderland Art Gallery),
18th century cavalry ambushed on a road, and The first fight for independence,
depicting the engagement at Lexington Common during the American Revolution. The
Great War inspired him to paint several canvases, notably Defeat of the Prussian
Guard, Ypres, 1914 (Royal Green Jackets) The London Territorials at Pozieres
(National Army Museum), and "Semper Fidelis": the last stand of the
2nd Devons at Bois des Buttes, May 27th, 1918 (The Devon and Dorset Regiment).
Wollen was also an active illustrator and painter in water-colours, exhibiting
many pictures at the various London exhibitions.
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Last Stand at Gundamuck by William Barnes Wollen.
Last stand of the 44th (Essex Regiment) after their retreat from Kabul. This painting depicts an incident during the retreat from Kabul in the first Afghan War of 1839-1842, when the remnants of the 44th (East Essex) Regiment made a last stand at Gundamuck and were overwhelmed by Afghan tribesmen. In an attempt to save the Regimental Colour, Lieutenant T A Souter wrapped the flag around him. Seeing the ornately decorated cloth the Afghans believed him to be a high official and spared his life for ransom.
Open edition print. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £51.00
ITEM CODE VAR0312
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Battle of Lexington by William Barnes Wollen.
The first fight for independence of the American Revolution. The Battle of Lexington, known as Lexington Common, is where the opening shots of the American Revolution of 1775 took place. The Common had been purchased by subscription of some of the towns leading citizens in 1711. The engagement took place oon April 19th 1775. Lt Col Francis Smith wiith 700 men under his command was given secret orders to capture and destroy military supplies that were reportedly stored by the Massachusetts militia at Concord. But Patriot colonials had received word weeks before the expedition that their supplies might be at risk, and had moved the supplies to other stores. They were also given word that the British were on their way and a rapid deployment of the militia was undertaken. The first shots were fired just as the sun was rising at Lexington. The Minutemen were outnumbered and withdrew, as the British proceeded on to Concord. At the North Bridge in Concord they were meet by a force of several hundred militiamen who defeated the British three companies of the Kings troops, who withdrew More Minutemen arrived soon thereafter and inflicted heavy damage on the regulars as they marched back towards Boston. Upon returning to Lexington, Smiths expedition was rescued by reinforcements. The whole British force of some 1700 men withdrew back to Boston.
Open edition print. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £51.00
**Open edition print. (3 copies reduced to clear) Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £40.00
ITEM CODE DHM0155
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The Charge of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons at Tolnay by William Barnes Wollen.
Open edition print Image size 23 inches x 15 inches (58cm x 38cm). Price £43.00
**Open edition print (2 ex display copies reduced to clear) Image size 23 inches x 15 inches (58cm x 38cm). Price £34.00
ITEM CODE DHM0186
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The Battle of Abuklea by William Barnes Wollen.
At the moment the Mahdists broke into the corner of the square against the Heavy Camel Regiment. 17th January 1885. Interesting note: a detachment of two officers and 44 men from the Scots Greys formed part of the Camel Corps in Egypt, and went through the desert march and took part in the battle of Abu Klea. At that affair one officer and 12 men were killed and three more men died of disease.
Open edition print. Image size 23 inches x 14 inches (58cm x 36cm). Price £43.00
**Open edition print. (2 copies reduced to clear) Image size 23 inches x 14 inches (58cm x 36cm). Price £32.00
ITEM CODE DHM0111
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Canadian Scout of the Veldt after William Barnes Wollen
Open edition print. Image size 8 inches x 12 inches (20cm x 31cm). Price £14.00
Original Lithograph circa 1905 Image size 16 inches x 22 inches (41cm x 56cm). Price £500.00
ITEM CODE VAR0127
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| Battle of Lexington by William Barnes Wollen
The first fight for independence of the American Revolution.
The Charge of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons at Tolnay by
William B Wollen
Last Stand at Gundamuck by WollenLast stand of the 44th (Essex Regiment) after their retreat from Kabul.
The Battle of Abuklea by WollenAt the moment the Mahdists broke into the corner of the square against
the Heavy Camel Regiment. 17th January 1885.
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After Naseby, June 14th 1645 by William Barnes Wollen
Antique print published by Cassell & Co. in 1915. Colour plate
from British Battles.
Image size 8" x 5.5", paper size 10.3" x 7.5".
Price £25 ($45). Serial number ANT71. |
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