The Death of General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B.
2 of 2 portraits of Richard Ford William Lambart, 7th Earl of Cavan
The Death of General Sir Ralph Abercromby, K.B.
by Francis Legat, after Thomas Stothard
line engraving, published 1805 (reissued 1828)
19 1/4 in. x 24 3/8 in. (490 mm x 620 mm) plate size; 21 1/4 in. x 29 1/8 in. (540 mm x 740 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1934
Reference Collection
NPG D11101
Artistsback to top
- Francis Legat (1755-1809). Artist or producer associated with 1 portrait.
- Thomas Stothard (1755-1834), Painter and illustrator. Artist or producer associated with 34 portraits, Sitter in 14 portraits.
Sittersback to top
- Sir John Abercromby (1772-1817), General. Sitter in 4 portraits. Identify
- Sir Ralph Abercromby (1734-1801), General. Sitter in 15 portraits. Identify
- Robert Anstruther (1768-1809), General. Sitter in 4 portraits. Identify
- Colonel Birch (active 1801), Soldier; present at Battle of Alexandria 1801. Sitter in 4 portraits. Identify
- Richard Ford William Lambart, 7th Earl of Cavan (1763-1836), General. Sitter in 2 portraits. Identify
- John Hely-Hutchinson, 2nd Earl of Donoughmore (1757-1832), General and politician. Sitter associated with 8 portraits. Identify
- John Francis Caradoc (Cradock), 1st Baron Howden (1762-1839), General. Sitter in 6 portraits. Identify
- Sir James Kempt (1764-1854), Governor-General of Canada. Sitter in 8 portraits. Identify
- George James Ludlow, 3rd Earl Ludlow (1758-1842), General. Sitter in 5 portraits. Identify
- Sir John Moore (1761-1809), Lieutenant-General; victor of Corunna. Sitter in 11 portraits. Identify
- Sir Hildebrand Oakes (1754-1822), Lieutenant-General. Sitter in 5 portraits. Identify
- Sir (William) Sidney Smith (1764-1840), Admiral. Sitter in 23 portraits. Identify
- James Stirling (active 1774-died 1825), Major-General. Sitter in 2 portraits. Identify
- Sir John Stuart (1761-1815), Lieutenant-General. Sitter in 6 portraits. Identify
This portraitback to top
Heroic deaths in the midst of battle became a popular subject for commercial prints. Ever since the best-selling engraving after Benjamin West's The Death of General Wolfe (1771) had captured the public imagination, the demand for prints of military martyrs was insatiable. In this engraving of the death of Sir Ralph Abercromby in Egypt (1801), West's prototype was closely followed. General Abercromby collapses on the field between two of his faithful generals with the flag raised high above his head. The popularity of such prints relied on their combination of realism - in details of costume and portraiture - and idealised religious references. This engraving was so successful it was reissued in 1828, over twenty years after its first appearance.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1828back to top
Current affairs
Duke of Wellington becomes Prime Minister.Madhouse Act attempts to regulate asylums and ensure new arrivals are genuinely insane.
Repeal of the Test Acts removes political restrictions from dissenters, allowing them to hold public office.
Art and science
London Zoological Gardens open in Regent's Park. They provide both entertainment and a supply of exotic specimens for naturalists and anatomists such as Richard Owen who becomes a European authority on the subject.International
Daniel O'Connell is elected Member of Parliament for County Clare but as a Catholic is not permitted to take his seat.Comments back to top
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