Portraits at Apsley House Gallery

Healy - Marshal Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult N070523

APSLEY HOUSE, London. "Marshal Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult Duc de Dalmatie" 1840 by George Peter Alexander HEALY (1808-94). WM 1555-1948. Nicolas Soult (1769-1851) joined the French army before the Revolutionary Wars and fought with distinction through a series of campaigns. He was promoted Marshal by Napoleon in 1804 and took part in the Battles of Ulm, Austerlitz and Jena. Soult was a prominent commander in the Peninsular War between 1808 and 1812 and at the Battle of Toulouse. From 1814 his political allegiance followed the winds, serving Louis XVIII, Napoleon again (during the Hundred Days), Louis again (after a short exile), Louis Philippe and then the Republic. At the time of this portrait in 1840 he was Prime Minister of France

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Pieneman - Field Marshal Henry William Paget N070459

APSLEY HOUSE, London. Field Marshal Henry William Paget 1st Marquess of Anglesey (1768-1854) sketched by Jan Willem PIENEMAN in 1821 (WM 1481-1948). Despite personal differences with the Duke of Wellington, in 1815 General Paget commanded the Cavalry Corps. He successfully covered the withdrawal of the Allies following the Battle of Quatre Bras. At the Battle of Waterloo he led a spectacular cavalry charge that turned back D'Erlon's Corps from their assault. One of the last cannon shots fired that day hit Paget in the right leg, necessitating its amputation. According to anecdote he was close to Wellington when he was hit, exclaiming, "By God, sir, I've lost my leg!" To which Wellington replied, "By God, sir, so you have!"

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Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick N070675

APSLEY HOUSE, London. Frederick William Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel (1771-1815) c.1813-15. German school. WM 1553-1948. A veteran of the Prussian army, who had fought many wars with the French since 1789. He briefly inherited the Duchy in 1806, but in 1807 it was seized by the French. In 1809 with the resumption of hostilities he established a Brunswick corps - wearing black in mourning for their occupied Duchy. He finally regained his Duchy in 1813. In 1815, as a Major-General, he led a fresh contingent in the Hundred Days campaign, but was killed by a gunshot at the Battle of Quatre Bras on 16th June, while leading his troops. He died two days before the Battle of Waterloo

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