NAM.1965-09-46-1

The Battle of Ulundi, Zulu War, 4 July 1879. Oil on canvas, signed lower right ‘A Yvon’, by Adolphe Yvon (1817-1893), 1880 (c). Yvon intended this panorama to be displayed on a curved surface, creating the illusion of being in the middle of the battlefield. In 1881 the painting was part of a spectacular presentation of the recent victory, displayed in a venue on Oxford Street in London. According to ‘The Times’ in July 1880, ‘the panorama will be 130ft. in circumference; and while the spectator will be 15 yards from it, the intermedial space will be so filled in with real objects as to render the illusion complete.’ Originally, this painting included Lord Chelmsford and his staff on the left hand side of the work, but the whole section of canvas was cut from the canvas to form a separate small painting. The Battle at Ulundi, the kraal of the Zulu King Cetshwayo, was fought between Lieutenant General Lord Chelmsford's force of about 5,000 British and an estimated 20,000 Zulus. The warriors converged upon the British, who formed a square of infantry enclosing staff, cavalry, and supplies. Heavy fire from their Gatling guns cut the Zulus down at long range. The scene represents a late stage of the battle viewed from the centre of the British position when the 17th Lancers (left, middle distance) charged the enemy flank, putting them to flight.

Ulundi, Battle of, 1879 (Zulu War 1879)