National Army Museum - Dawn at Waterloo

Dawn at Waterloo 

Acquired by the National Army Museum via auction in 2012, Dawn of Waterloo, known also by its other title The ‘Reveille’ in the Bivouac of the Scots Greys on the Morning of the Battle, 1815, depicts a key moment before battle as the buglers sound the reveille (a wake up call). Painted in 1879 by Elizabeth Thompson, later Lady Butler, it is an incredibly rare piece of Victorian military art painted by a female artist. 

 

Lady Butler was committed to accuracy, and painted the scene largely en plein air, having hired a field to recreate the scene using authentic uniforms and a local regiment of soldiers. 

Following a condition assessment, recording, and testing, conservation included surface cleaning, removal of discoloured varnish, old fills and overpaint. Prior to conservation, the sky appeared closer to a sunset, rather than a sunrise, and the removal of the yellowed varnish restored the ‘dawn’ stated in the painting’s title. This cleaning and varnish removal revealed further elements of authenticity so meticulously planned by the artist; a storm in the top left corner was fully revealed – it was well documented that heavy rain befell the battlefield the night before. 

The painting had previously been wax-lined, and uneven distribution of the wax-resin had produced deformations in the surface. The painting was thus relined using more appropriate materials. Finally, the areas of loss were in-painted, and a final protective varnish applied to achieve a more matte but saturated surface. 

Finally, work was also undertaken on the frame; namely the creation of a new slip-frame, backboard and backcloth, the building-up of the frame and adding spacers, and the addition of UltraVue92 3mm glazing.