Overall: 42cm (16.5in) x 52cm (20.5in)
Watercolour on paper. Mounted officer and troopers of the 17th Lancers in review order. Signed with initials HM to lower right. Image: 23cm x 32cm. Contained in period matching gilt moulded frame, glazed.
Henry Martens (1790-1868) was born in London to German parents and became the leading military illustrator and artist of the 1830s, 40s and 50s. He is best known for the historical and contemporary works, such as ‘Costumes of the British Army’ (1848-1853,) that he created for the Anglo-German lithographer and publisher Rudolf Ackmermann who ran the Eclipse Sporting Gallery at 191 Regent Street. As with many other of his works these were engraved by John Harris. The London Commercial Directories for 1850-51 list ‘Henry Marten, artist,’ and locate his studio at 31 Conduit Street, Hanover Square, which was conveniently close to Ackermann’s gallery. The Post Office Directory for 1856 places him at 73 Stanhope Street, Hampstead Road. Martens worked mainly in watercolour although he exhibited a few oils at various galleries including the British Institution and the Society of British Artists. Between 1828 and 1842, he showed no fewer than 34 watercolours at the latter, the majority depicting historical rather than contemporary military scenes such as ‘The Skirmish at Drumclog’ (1833–34), ‘Out-post duty - English Hussars’ (1836), ‘Charles I at the Battle of Naseby’ (1839) and ‘Cavalry engagement at Benevente during Sir John Moore's Retreat’ (1842).