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ON THE ROAD FROM WATERLOO TO PARIS
By MARCUS STONE, R.A. (1840-1921)
IN THE GUILDHALL ART GALLERY. LONDON
There are many points of interest of a personal nature connected with this picture in addition to its imaginative and dramatic power. It was painted just half a century ago when the artist was only twenty-two years old, and for a boy of that age it is certainly a remarkable achievement. The artist, when staying with Charles Dickens at Gad's Hill, came across a volume of Beranger, and read therein the exquisite poem " Souvenir du Peuple," which inspired the young painter with the idea for this work. So enamoured with it was he, that the picture was rapidly completed, and was exhibited in the Royal Academy the following year.
This particular episode In the life-story of Napoleon has a perpetual interest for English folk. After the disastrous defeat of Waterloo, the Emperor, with a small escort, fled to Paris, and the picture presents an incident of the flight. Resting for a brief space, he has entered a cottage, and is brooding by the fire. General Bertrand is drying the Emperor's coat, while a group of peasants stand aloof and gaze with awe and sympathy at their fallen idol- a young mother with a baby in her arms, a little girl and boy, a young widow, and an old soldier with an empty sleeve. There is an absence of men of fighting age, who have been drawn away for service in the campaign. A statuette of the Emperor on the chimney shelf, and a print of him in his coronation robes on the wall, accentuate the lost glory, which is further emphasised by the drizzling rain outside, where the villagers are to be seen questioning the escort.
From the book "Famous Paintings" Volume 2 printed in 1913.
Large files of this public domain print are available at Stock Photos at Songs of Praise
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Online "Name the Painting"
Napoleon and the Waterloo Campaign
from PBS
Two's Company, Three's None
painting by Marcus Stone
Marcus Stone
at Wikipedia
Wood Engraving by Marcus Stone
Marcus Stone
at Art Net
Famous Paintings in this Series