John Dalbiac Luard (c. 1856)

Thought by the critic of Blackwood’s magazine to be one of small number of 'national works’, because they uttered 'the sorrows, and yet the heroism of a great nation’, this important picture depicts a wounded officer returning from service abroad, in either the Crimea, or possibly India (the siege of Lucknow took place in 1857). A study was sold by Sotheby’s in the sale of Sir David and Lady Scott’s collection (19 November 2008, lot 106) erroneously described as the Royal Academy exhibit, but the present picture, labelled 'No. 1’ on the reverse of the frame, is surely the Academy version. Luard was a friend of Holman Hunt, and Millais, with whom he shared a studio in Langham Chambers. A former officer in the 82nd Foot, he had visited his brother while he was serving in the Crimea. A Welcome Arrival, depicting the unpacking of provisions, was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1857 and is now in the National Army Museum.