The Battle of Isandhlwana by Fripp's

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I have a copy of the print above (The Battle of Isandhlwana.) By Fripp, for some years, and never really look at the detail. However today I had a good look at it through my magnifying glass. Must say the expressions on some of the soldiers faces, must have really captivated how it was during the battle, some cool and ready, and others terrified.

Now I know it was a dramatisation of the real event, but some consultation must have been done. Now please correct me if I’m wrong, but is the painting showing Popes last stand.

And who are the two men on horseback ,supposed to be in the background ,cutting their way through with their sabres, wearing light-blue uniforms.

All replies welcome.

hi john,
i think you are correct, it is based on G COMPANY , pope"s command , the stony faced soldier with the head bandage i believe is COLOUR SGT WOLFE. i also have a large print framed and hanging in the bedroom !!, i dont think the wife is overly impressed !!.

cheers 90th.

p.s. the people on horseback , loosely based on MELVILLE and COGHILL i would expect, or just showing how some would have attempted to flee.

The two in the back ground could Possibly members of irregular cavalry units such as the Natal Mounted Police.who wore light blue uniforms.

I could be wrong, but i would have thought that Coghill would have been on his way to Rorkes Drift.

I have been taking a good look at my copy of the Battle of Isandhlwana, since Johns posted this topic. If you look on the left hand side, where the wagons are located, there is a mounted coloured gentleman wearing khaki uniform and a hat, firing a revolver. Would he have been with the NNC?

Just out of interest. "Charles Fripp – who painted the famous ‘Last Stand of the 24th at Isandlwana’ painting – covered the war as a special artists for The Graphic; on 3 July he was busy sketching the skirmish at the White Mfolozi when he failed to hear a shouted order to withdraw.
When Lord William Beresford rode past, soaked in the blood of the injured Sergeant he had just snatched to safety, an altercation broke out which prompted Beresford to dismount and square up to Fripp with his fists! The two had to be dragged apart by Fripp’s fellow correspondents."

Source: azwrs

24th the only one I can find with a similar uniform to that gent in the painting is from the Natal Native Horse.


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Hope it helps..

I've gone and made sure by looking at the real thing. The mounted men in the background appear to be officers in blue patrol jackets. I think the artist's gunsmoke is playing tricks on your eyes. Or you have got a poor reproduction of the painting.

The central figure of the N.C.O. is a Lance-Sergeant rather than a Colour-Sergeant, as he is wearing white chevrons, N.C.O.'s who were substantive Sergeants and above wore gold chervons. Two possibles in 2nd/24th killed at Isandlwana Lance-Sergeants 25B/1217 Joseph Haigh & 2nd/24th 1755 James McCaffery.

The figure on the left with the wideawake hat and pistol has a white, rather than an African, left hand, I surmise he might be a wagon-conductor, he's not obviously mounted, by-the-way.

Yes I agree it is meant to be the 2nd/24th, because of the inclusion of Regimental Colour in the group. 1st/24th's Regimental Colour was on the Lines-of-Communication at the time of the battle.

Isandlwana

Isandlwana. Thanks very much for the informative reply. You certainly know your subject.

Your probably right about a poor reproduction. I got my print from the Barking market.

I just hope we don’t start discussing the Battle of Rorke’s Drift Print, as I got that one from the same place.

I must get down to the National Army Museum. Have they still got that enormous painting of Ulundi?

Thanks for your reply.

Isandlwana. Your reply is out-standing, I take it you have Studied the AZW for many years. Are you by any chance related to someone who took part in the AZW 1879

S.D

All about. Charles Fripp

He was influenced by his father, the landscape artist George A Fripp, and he studied art in Nuremberg and at the Royal Academy of Munich. He is primarily known as an illustrator, in which capacity he worked for The Graphic from 1875 onwards, and the Daily Graphic from 1890 until 1900. Fripp spent many years in southern Africa covering the Ninth Kaffir, Zulu, Boer (1881 and 1899) and Matabele Wars; he was also 'special artist' in the 1885 campaign in Sudan, and covered a number of foreign wars including the Sino-Japanese conflict of 1894-95 and the Philippine insurrection of 1899. He also held a commission in the Artist's Rifles for 13 years. A number of his original sketches and water-colours survive but he is chiefly remembered for his painting 'The Last Stand at Isandhlula (Isandhlwana)'. (National Army Museum) which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1885. His only other Academy picture was his 1886 canvas, 'The attack on General Sir John McNeil's force near Suakim' (Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment). The former picture resulted from his activities in the Zulu War which he recounted in an article published in 1900. He arrived at Durban on March 20th, 1879 and joined Lord Chelmsford's column for the relief of Etshowe. Fripp witnessed an attack on the British camp on April 2nd, and Chelmsford's successful relief of Pearson's force at Etshowe. Later he was in the column that discovered the body of the Prince Imperial which he vividly described, and his final account was of the battle at Ulundi which he sketched as he lay on the leather roof of an ammunition cart. He wrote: "Now and again a bullet sighed overhead as I watched the beautiful advance of the enemy rapidly spreading over the undulations, disappearing and reappearing as the inequalities were traversed. The landscape in the Isandhlwana picture was drawn, no doubt, on the spot. Similarly the Suakim picture was a result of his participation with General Graham's second expedition from which he submitted many sketches which appeared in the Graphic.

Nice one Isandlwana. I can see your going to useful. Thats if you don't mind sharing your knowledge.

S.D.,

I have been "A student of the Anglo-Zulu War" since 1964, after seeing a certain film.

Through my recent acquired family history knowledge I can say I'm related to at least three persons who fought in the conflict in 1879, two of whom I discovered only this month whilst delving through the family tree, and they came as a surprise to me!

OH2,

The National Army Museum has a fine panoramic painting of the Battle of Ulundi by Adolphe Yvon, it was exhibited a few years back as it should have been seen on a curved mount.

Isandlwana

That’s a long time, your knowledge must be endless. I think littlehand is right. Your knowledge will be useful.

S.D

S.D.,

Extensive, but never endless!

Isandlwana

The 24th regimental colours shown in the painting. Are these the colours that disappeared? If so are there any statements from survivors, as to what might have happen to it.
Were they taken by the Zulu, Burned?

hi isandlwana,

I agree looking at my print the chap seems more white than black ( like someone else i know , sorry ) , a wagon conductor seems the best bet, i can say, i dont think i have noticed him before, the others mentioned ,yes, it is one of those works the more you look , the more you seem to find !!.. but mine is in the bedroom as the wife wants it out of the way and not on view. can you let us know who you are related to, im sure we are all keen to know.

cheers 90th.

90th,

One relative @ k.i.a. Isandlwana.

Two distant relatives: brothers; one at Ulundi with the 1st/24th draft, the other at Gingindlovu with the Boadicea.

Little Hand,

The 2nd/24th's colours were lost, only a Crown & Colour-pole were ever recovered.

Isandlwana

I have been looking at my bad copy of the Battle of Isandhlwana again.

On the Right, there are three Zulus. One his holding a Rifle in the air, and the other two are kneeling besides a Dead Soldier.
Are they removing items, from the body or are they about to carryout the ritual of disembowelling, or have they already carried out the ritual. On my copy it actually looks like the Zulu has his hand inside the soldier’s stomach.

Didn't realise how much information was in the painting. Especially after Isandlwana put names to the faces.

It appears I to have a bad copy. I think they are removing items of clothing, Which was another custom.

S.D

Can anyone tell me where I obtain a copy of this painting.

sas1

hi sas1.

Fripp"s print is often on e-bay uk , or, go to google and type in isandlwana print, there should be plenty of places where you can obtain it, dont be in a hurry , if you do your homework you may find a good deal. i paid $ 90.00 U.S.
from art.com, i was to hasty. the size of the print will determine how much you will pay. good hunting, let us know how you go.

cheers 90th.

forgot to add , if you go to our home page scroll down till you come to LINKS TO THE ZULU WAR. click on it, you will then see " art prints of the zulu war, they will have it and many others , but search around you will find a bargain.

90th.

sas1

Heres a link. I paid more than that form my.. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Got to go late for work.. (Again)

hi sas1

here is an absolute bargain, i paid double for mine!!!.
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hi all.

the price works out at about 22 quid, not including postage, but it is fantastic value, not sure how long the sale will last.
good luck if any body is interested.

cheers 90th.

Excellent value. But with the frame it would cost. Total: £ 94.17

hi pete.

works out expensive if you buy it framed, i had mine framed after i recieved the print, there is a market on weekends near me, and they
framed it for only 40.00 aust, im sure you would find a place similar in your neck of the woods, i still cant believe how cheap it is. I noticed the sale finishes saturday.

cheers 90th.