Italian School, mid-19th century

The scene probably (as indicated by the inscription) dates to the Uruguayan Civil War in the 1840s, when Montevideo was besieged for 9 years. In 1842 Garibaldi, then in Uruguay, took command of the Uruguayan fleet and raised an "Italian Legion", aligning with the liberal reds ('Colorados') and defending Montevideo against Oribe's conservative forces ('Blancos') between 1842 and 1848.