William Simpson (1823-1899)

William Simpson (1823-1899)
The funeral procession of Lord Raglan, 1855
signed and dated 'Wm Simpson/3rd. July/1855' (lower right)
watercolour heightened with white
9¾ x 19½ in. (24.8 x 49.5 cm.)

Specialist note

Included in Simpson's, Seat of War in the East, second series published in 1856 (see lot 107).
On hearing of Lord Raglan's death, Marshal Pélissier went in to the farmhouse where Raglan had died and stood by the iron camp-bed and the green serge curtains 'crying like a child'. For the funeral procession he placed a wreath of immortelles (everlasting flowers) on Field Marshal Lord Raglan's coffin, pulled on a gun carriage, behind which walked Miss Mary, his favourite horse (see lot 129).