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Field-Marshal Sir Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey KG, GCB (1768-1854)
Thomas Lawrence·1816
Historical Context
Field Marshal the Marquess of Anglesey led the cavalry charge at Waterloo that broke Napoleon's forces, losing his right leg to one of the last cannon shots of the battle. Painted in 1816 for the Waterloo Chamber project, this portrait captures the hero at thirty-eight, still recovering from his famous wound. The legendary exchange with Wellington — "By God, sir, I've lost my leg!" "By God, sir, so you have!" — epitomized the stoic courage celebrated in these post-war portraits.
Technical Analysis
The military uniform is rendered with meticulous attention to the cavalry officer's richly decorated tunic, while the face conveys both martial confidence and the gravity of a man who had endured extraordinary physical sacrifice. Lawrence's brushwork is at its most vigorous in the treatment of the gilt braiding and epaulettes.
Look Closer
- ◆Notice the magnificently decorated cavalry uniform: Lawrence renders the gilt braiding, epaulettes, and medals with sparkling precision.
- ◆Look at the face: beneath the martial display is the gravity of a man who lost his leg in the last hours of Waterloo.
- ◆Observe the vigorous brushwork in the gilt braiding: this is Lawrence at his most technically dazzling in the rendering of military regalia.
- ◆Find the composed expression: Anglesey projects stoic courage rather than pain, embodying the stiff-upper-lip legend that surrounded the battle.
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