Winds of War - Clouds of Despair
Islandlwana

The defeat of the British Army by the Zulu Impis at Isandlwana on January 22, 1879 could be aptly titled "Custer's Last Stand for the British." The similarties between the two incidents are amazingly alike. Lord Chelmsford, Commander of the British Army, made similar mistakes as Custer did, such as splitting his command without full knowledge of the disposition of the enemy, not trusting his scouting reports, lacking knowledge and understanding of the terrain, and underestimating the strength and prowess of the enemy.

On January 22, 1879, the Zulu army , some twenty-three thousand strong, soundly defeated the Bitish army at the base of a mountain named Isandlwana. Within a matter of a few hours, the British lost eighteen hundred men. This figure consisted of twelve hundred Imperial troops and six hundred Natal native contigingents. Although this was the first of many engagements and the British would ultimately win "The Zulu war", they never quite recovered from this resounding defeat.

On that same day and throughout the night of the 22nd of January, approximately one hundred forty British troops held off countless attacks by literally thousands of Zulu warriors at a river crossing ten miles away called Rorke's Drift. This stand-off battle was somewhat of a bittersweet victory after the devastatiin events at Isandlwana. Eleven Victoria Crosses, England's highest honor, were won at Rorke's Drift.

The Painting depicts the present day battlefield at Isandlwana, Zululand, South Africa, with the existing monuments and memorials. The British are represneted by the portrait of a Color Sergeant of the Twenty-Fourth Foot, a Welsh regiment. The Zulu are represented by a portrait of a warrior of the Black Shield Regiment. The Black Shields were "The Horns" of the fighting formatiion. The ghost-like figures typify the battle that took place that fateful day.

The paining is a tribute to the courage of both adversaries. It is also a reminder of the cost and futility of war.
Limited Edition
580 signed and numbered
58 artist proofs (Special Edition)

 
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