The Death of General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.G.

by John Tallis & Company

Superb military action scene with finely engraved border. The Death of General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.G. with military vignettes border (at base and sides) - Lutz capturing the standard of the French Legion; and 2 soldiers facing-off at each sides of base.

Ralph Abercromby (1734-1801) was a Scottish soldier and politician who rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the British Army, was appointed Governor of Trinidad, served as Commander-in-Chief of Ireland. He was noted for his services in the Seven Years War, West German Campaign; the French Revolutionary Wars - Flanders Campaign, West Indies Campaign, Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland; the Irish Rebellion of 1798: French campaign in Egypt and Syria, and invasion of Syria.

The portrait of Sir Ralph Abercromby is a steel engraving by William Finden of Sir Ralph Abercromby, from the John Hoppner RA (1753-1810) oil painting in the collection of The Honourable James Abercromby. With a particularly elaborate finely-engraved border, this beautfiul portrait was published for Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain by John Tallis and Company, London and New York, c1850 (later hand-colour)

The second fine steel engraving c1855 by John Rogers from a painting by Thomas Stothard Esq. RA (1755-1834), is a wonderful military action scene, where Sir Ralph has just been removed from his horse (who is looking rather concerned). Abercromby is surrounded by the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot and the Minorca Regiment of Foot (later renamed 97th (Queen's Germans) Regiment of Foot). The central vignette below this scene shows Antoine Lutz, a French Royalist in the Queen's German Regiment, who took the Standard from Buonaparte's Invincible Legion in the memorable battle between the English and French, fought before Alexandria, on 21st March 1801. Sir Ralph Abercromby was killed when the French cavalry charge recaptured their standard and wounded many in the 42nd Regiment. The standard was retaken from the French by Antoine Lutz.

Page measures approximately 27 x 18 cm (10 5/8 x 7 1/4 inches).