Illustration Catalogue (with biographical notes of the artists) : Queensland National Art Gallery (Brisbane) 1908

18 OIL PAINTINGS. 16. The Charge of the Heiwy Brigade. G. D. Giles. Presented by W. Knox D'Arcy, Esq. The picture shows the foremost of the fit-:st squadron of Inniskillin1,-s M they •·eached the :Ru,sian rankt. n~rore \ls is" complete panorama of tho b:tttlefield, a Joor; gra~sy slope, bebind wh ich rises tho heigh~~ whose ridges are covered for many miles with troops, spectator$ for tl1e most part of the ch,.rge which is taking plac" almost at their feet. The Russinn c;walry, $kmd ing in a. dense mass, n)ny bo counted more by acreage than numbers. Htre .and thete some of the ino('r ranks fire their carbines over the heads of their follows, whilst the front rank engaies with tbe advancing attackers when forced to, for self-protection; but the whole shows au army defeatiog its object by means of its f(teat size :1nd the cnmlJcr:tome mnnller in which it l.:; Crawn u1>, In the distancP, thn Scots Greys and the second squadron of the Inniskillings are crashing their sweating horse$ into the column which, at the point in question, is almost hidden by the flMhing sabre.bl, ,des, the grey horses, the towering bearskins of the Greys, and the burnished helmet,; :tnd red uniforms of tho Ioniskillings. In the foreground of the picture the first squad ron of Inniskillings, now de"oid of form,tion in its baste to grapple with the enemy, flings itself on the Rustian cohnnn. No hesitancy asserts itself on the face~ of the tro<>pers, who for the most part are nppa,-ontly highly gmtified at the prospect before them, as they urge their charges forward in the endeavour to ~e 6rst in the fray. Except for tbeir helmets, tho three hundred are without means of ;Jefence as far ns covering 01· accoutrement is conce.rned, as they lack shoulder•s~les and evon gauntlets, whilst we are told that the long, thick, grey outer coat with which the Russ ian covalry were (or the most part clothed, offered ,n excellent protection against the cuts oi the British sabre•. Whilst the thick coat,; aud numbers of their men bene6ted tho Russions, the long reach and momentum of the British served them in ~ood stead. On the tight are three Inniskillings slashing their way through a number of the enemy, wbo, ba\'ing detached themsel"es from their column formation, have come to join b.,ttle. In his shirt slee"es mny be see•! the regimental butcher, who, while engaged in his dutie~ in camp, saw 6shting going on, :md, not wishing to be out of it, mounted • horse which he took from the sick– horse line, and dashed off to join his comrade., in arms. Cut over the head by an Inniskilling sabre, a Russinn lies on the ground in a dazed stnte, and bis horse struggles to free itself from his grip of its bridle. Close by a British sergMnt unhor,cd a .Russian by rmming him through tho neck at • gallop, whilst a couple of troopers who have driven their horses into th-. thick of the enemy cut and slash against seemiugly ovcrwhelmuing odds. 'l'ho composition of colour is cleverly managed, nod the silvery landscape contrasts well with the red uniforms of the · British soldiers.