The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, was a seismic event that changed the course of European history. In this titanic clash, the French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte, numbering some 73,000 men, faced off against the Allied armies of the British, Dutch, and Prussians, totaling around 124,000 troops. After a brutal day of fighting, the Allied victory sealed Napoleon‘s fate and ushered in a new era of European politics and power dynamics.
As one of the most consequential military engagements of the 19th century, it‘s no surprise that the Battle of Waterloo inspired a legion of artists who sought to capture its drama, chaos, heroism, and tragedy on canvas. The iconic paintings they created have played a key role in shaping public memory and perceptions of the battle over the past two centuries. As historian Sébastien Le Bras notes, "these artworks served almost as a form of 19th century war reporting, celebrating national triumphs, lionizing key figures, and bringing the battlefield to life for audiences far removed from the fighting."
But these paintings are more than just artistic renderings; they provide a fascinating window into how different nations and cultures chose to commemorate and mythologize this pivotal event. By examining these works, we gain insight into the diverse experiences and perspectives of those who fought and witnessed the Battle of Waterloo firsthand.
Let‘s dive into 12 of the most famous and impactful paintings of the battle, unpacking what each one reveals about this key moment in history:
1. Scotland Forever! by Lady Elizabeth Butler (1881)
Perhaps the most iconic Waterloo painting of all, Butler‘s "Scotland Forever!" offers a romantic, almost mythical take on the charge of the Scots Greys, a British heavy cavalry unit, into the French lines. With the horses rearing and nostrils flaring, sabers flashing, and the Scots Greys‘ bearskin hats lending an imposing air, the painting has become synonymous with the battle in the public imagination.
However, the work takes some artistic liberties. As historian Jeremy Black points out, "in reality, the heavy cavalry charge was less dramatic than Butler depicts. The horses were slowed by the muddy ground and could only manage a trot or canter, not a thundering gallop." Nevertheless, the painting‘s emotional resonance and visual flair have made it an enduring representation of Waterloo‘s heroic spirit.
2. Wellington At Waterloo by Robert Alexander Hillingford (1888)
Hillingford‘s painting zeroes in on the Duke of Wellington, the steely British commander who led the Allied forces to victory. Shown astride his famed charger Copenhagen, the Duke cuts an imposing figure, exuding both steel resolve and aristocratic poise amidst the swirling battle.
The work exemplifies the ‘Great Man‘ school of history, casting Wellington as the central protagonist in the Waterloo drama. "Hillingford‘s portrayal elevated Wellington to iconic status, crystallizing his image as the unflappable hero of Waterloo," notes art historian Catherine Roach. While it largely ignores the contributions of the rank-and-file soldiers, the painting undoubtedly helped cement Wellington‘s legacy in the British national consciousness.
3. The French Cavalry Charging the British Squares by Felix Philippoteaux (1874)
In this action-packed scene, Philippoteaux captures the repeated French cavalry assaults against the unyielding red-coated squares of the British infantry. The aerial perspective emphasizes the scale of the action, with the French horsemen appearing like a great crashing wave against the thin red lines of the British defence.
While a stunning visual spectacle, the painting also highlights the strategic mismatch between the French and British tactics. "The French reliance on unsupported heavy cavalry charges played into British hands," explains historian David Hamilton-Williams. "The disciplined British infantry held firm in their square formations, turning back some 12 French assaults over the course of the afternoon." Philippoteaux‘s work dramatizes this key dynamic at the heart of the battle.
4. The Battle of Waterloo by William Sadler (1815)
Sadler‘s sprawling panorama, painted in the immediate aftermath of the battle, is one of the earliest artistic representations of Waterloo. From an elevated perspective, it shows the broad sweep of the battlefield, with blocks of infantry and cavalry swirling amidst the cannon smoke.
While lacking the precise detail and artistic refinement of later works, Sadler‘s painting is notable for being informed by first-hand accounts of soldiers who had just fought in the battle. "Sadler was on the scene in the days following Waterloo, sketching the landscape and ruins and talking to survivors," notes historian Timothy Clayton. "His work has an immediacy and authenticity that captures the scale and scope of the battle, even if some of the specifics are blurred."
5. The Defence of Hougoumont by Robert Gibb (1903)
Not all of the fighting at Waterloo occurred in the open fields. Gibb‘s gripping scene depicts a key action at Hougoumont, a stone farmhouse and walled compound that anchored the Allied right flank. Here, a few hundred British Guardsmen and German allies successfully repelled repeated French attacks, tying down thousands of enemy troops in the process.
Gibb‘s painting focuses on a critical moment in the defense, as the Hougoumont gates are about to be breached. The desperation and valor of the defenders is palpable, with the Guards racing to close the gates under heavy fire. "The fight for Hougoumont was a battle within a battle," notes historian Andrew Roberts, "and its success was vital to Wellington‘s victory. Gibb‘s work captures the intensity and stakes of this pivotal struggle."
6. Marshal Blücher Leading his Troops into Battle by August Braun (1836)
While most Waterloo paintings focus on the British and French roles, this work by German artist August Braun highlights the critical intervention of the Prussian forces under Marshal Gebhard von Blücher. Delayed by fighting a French blocking force at Wavre, the Prussians finally arrived on the battlefield late in the day, attacking the French right flank.
Braun‘s painting shows a determined Blücher leading his men into the thick of the action. As historian Peter Hofschroer notes, "Blücher‘s arrival changed the battle‘s dynamics. The Prussians‘ assault on Plancenoit drew off French reserves and allowed Wellington to go on the offensive." The work is a testament to the multinational nature of the Allied effort.
7. The Wounded Prince of Orange by Jan Willem Pieneman (1824)
Dutch artist Pieneman‘s scene depicts a moment during the battle when the Prince of Orange, commander of the Netherlands forces, was struck in the shoulder by a musket ball. In the painting, the wounded Prince is surrounded by his concerned aides and soldiers.
While a more peripheral episode in the overall battle, Pieneman‘s work reflects the significance of the Dutch contribution to Waterloo. "The Netherlands fielded over 17,000 men for the campaign," notes historian Johan Joor, "and its leaders like the Prince of Orange played a valuable role in the Allied victory." The painting, with its Romantic portrayal of noble sacrifice, helped forge a sense of Dutch national pride in their Waterloo legacy.
8. The Last Stand of the French Old Guard by Robert Gibb (1895)
Gibb‘s brooding painting depicts the final moments of Napoleon‘s famed Imperial Guard, his elite shock troops, at the end of the battle. Formed in squares, the Guard defiantly faces the advancing British forces, even as the rest of the French army disintegrates around them.
The work captures the poignant end of an era, as the once-invincible Guard meets its defeat. "The Guard‘s last stand has assumed mythic status," writes historian Andrew Roberts, "a testament to martial valor and the fading glory of Napoleon‘s dream." Gibb‘s painting, with its melancholic twilight hues and stalwart poses, immortalizes this defining moment.
9. The Meeting of Wellington and Blücher after the Battle of Waterloo by Daniel Maclise (1858-1861)
Maclise‘s massive painting, measuring 13 feet high and 27 feet wide, is a tour de force of historical scene-setting. It depicts the famous meeting of the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blücher at the La Belle Alliance inn following the Allied victory, as the two leaders congratulate each other.
But the painting is more than just a celebration of the Allied commanders‘ rapport. With its detailed, granular depiction of the post-battle landscape – the churned-up mud, the abandoned weapons, the bodies of the slain – Maclise‘s work grapples with the grim realities and human toll of Waterloo. It‘s a meditation on the costs of military glory.
10. Napoleon‘s Last Stand at Waterloo by James Alexander Walker (1882)
Walker‘s painting offers a different perspective, focusing on Napoleon in defeat. Seated on his white horse Marengo, the Emperor watches helplessly as his army disintegrates. His slumped posture and thousand-yard stare convey a man coming to grips with catastrophe.
The work is a study in the loneliness of command and the agony of defeat. As historian Adam Zamoyski notes, "for Napoleon, Waterloo marked not just a military defeat but the shattering of his legend of invincibility and the crumbling of his political ambitions." Walker‘s painting confronts us with the human frailty behind the Napoleonic myth.
11. The Field of Waterloo by Clément-Auguste Andrieux (1852)
Andrieux‘s haunting painting looks not at the battle itself, but its grisly aftermath. Set on the morning of June 19th, it shows the battlefield strewn with corpses and debris as far as the eye can see, while scavenging locals and soldiers pick through the detritus.
The work serves as a sobering counterpoint to the more celebratory or romanticized battle scenes. "Andrieux confronts us with the ugly reality of industrialized warfare," writes historian Bernard Cornwell. "Here we see not gallant charges or noble sacrifices, but the anonymous dead, the wasted youth of Europe." It‘s a painting that foreshadows the mass-slaughter battlefields of the 20th century.
12. After the Battle by Ernest Crofts (1906)
Crofts‘ painting depicts British officers surveying the post-battle devastation, with the wounded being tended to in the foreground while plumes of smoke still drift across the corpse-strewn field. The work juxtaposes the pain and suffering of the ordinary soldiers with the detachment of the commanders.
Like Andrieux‘s work, Crofts‘ painting subverts the ‘glorious victory‘ narrative around Waterloo. "It asks uncomfortable questions about the human price of military success and the gulf between the soldiers‘ experience and that of their leaders," notes art historian Laura Lg. In this sense, it offers a more nuanced, modern perspective on the battle‘s legacy.
Taken together, these 12 iconic paintings offer a kaleidoscopic view of the Battle of Waterloo, each one illuminating different facets of the experience, from the heat of combat to the chill of the aftermath, from the commanders‘ perspective to that of the common soldier, from the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat. They reveal how Waterloo captured the 19th century imagination and how its legacy was shaped by the brush strokes of artists.
But more than that, these paintings serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact and importance of this momentous battle. Waterloo marked a major turning point in European history, the end of the Napoleonic era and the start of Britain‘s century of global dominance. Its aftershocks continue to reverberate to this day.
And yet, as these paintings also remind us, Waterloo was more than just an abstract historical event. It was a deeply human experience, a day of incredible heroism and heart-wrenching tragedy, of acts of valor and moments of terror. In brushing past the official statistics – the 41,000 French casualties, the 24,000 Allied losses – these artworks confront us with the flesh-and-blood realities of the battle.
In our own time, as war continues to cast its shadow over the globe, these paintings of Waterloo offer a timeless testament to the courage, sacrifice, and suffering that are the eternal companions of armed conflict. They are not just windows into the past, but mirrors for our present. As the Spanish philosopher George Santayana famously observed, "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." In helping us remember Waterloo in all its vivid, messy humanity, these iconic paintings are more than just masterful works of art – they are an indispensable guide for a world still grappling with the challenges of war and peace.
