PAINTING OF FRITH

Subject: PAINTING OF FRITH Fri May 27, 2016 1:37 pm

I am doing some research on the moment Lieutenant Frith of the 17th Lancers was killed near the Upoko River so that I can complete an oil painting. I would be most grateful for any information members might have in regards to what the scene would have looked like especially any pictures or photographs of the area in which he was killed. Who would have been beside him? Were they stood among the mealie fields? If so what colour would the mealies have been at that time of year? Any information however small would be most gratefully received.

Regards

die art

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Fri May 27, 2016 2:04 pm

90th has just got back from Natal and Im pretty sure this site was on his to do list. Drop him a pm, but type slowly hes an Aussie. Joker

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Fri May 27, 2016 2:07 pm

Thank you very much Frank will do.

Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

Here's some information regarding the terrain they were at his time of death.

"On the 5th June 1879, Lieutenant Frith was with a Company of Lancers under the guidance of Colonel Drury Lowe, who was trotting his squadron back and forth through the mealie patches flushing out stray warriors, of which they found none, since they had all taken to the slopes for cover and began firing at the Dragoons. Drury Lowe dismounted a troop to return the fire, and the unnecessary skirmish cost the life of Adjutant Lieutenant Frith. He suddenly threw up his arms and fell forward on his saddlebow. Drury Lowe spurred up to him, but he was already dead, shot through the heart by a Martini-Henry rifle."

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Fri May 27, 2016 2:29 pm

Thank you Chard1879.

Now what I need to find out is roughly how tall the mealies would have been at that time of year and what colour it would have been. Isnt mealie just like maize?

Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

Yes Corn I think! So yes good question how high was it.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Fri May 27, 2016 2:44 pm

I'm guessing that since the Zulus had been hiding among them the mealies must have been at least or near head height.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Fri May 27, 2016 4:18 pm

die art
I would tend to think the mealies ( as you say corn) were towards the end of their season. The other issue is that the men were dismounted to return fire that wouldn't make sense if the growth was to high. If it was of a height then a better shot would have been from horseback.
So my guess would have been possibly waste high, brownish to yellow and very dry.

Hope that helps.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Fri May 27, 2016 4:39 pm

Yes that is a great help thank you Frank.

If any one else has any other details especially photographs of the area in question I would love to see them.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Fri May 27, 2016 5:08 pm

In regard to the height of the mealie (corn) field your comment about getting 'a better shot on horseback' must have been true because Frith was in his saddle not dismounted when he was shot.

Subject: Painting of Frith Fri May 27, 2016 6:05 pm

die art I received your pm , send me your email address and I'll try and help .
Cheers 90th

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Fri May 27, 2016 7:28 pm

die art wrote:: In regard to the height of the mealie (corn) field your comment about getting 'a better shot on horseback' must have been true because Frith was in his saddle not dismounted when he was shot.

That would make a great painting.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Fri May 27, 2016 9:16 pm

The picture I have in my head would make a great painting its just getting it onto canvas thats the difficult bit lol

Posts : 272 Join date : 2010-08-13

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"The Death of Lt. Frith, 17th Lancers, at eZungeni, Zulu War of 1879" original painting by Hermanus Willem Koekkoek (1869-1929) (Isandula Collection)

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

That is very skilfully done indeed Isandula. Is it a watercolour?

Steve

Posts : 272 Join date : 2010-08-13

No, it is not a watercolor, but some sort of white thick wash with blue. Sorry, I am no art expert. Isandula

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Thanks Isandula. I would guess it is a watercolour sketch (the blue) heightened with white body colour (gouache) which is the thick wash. Stunning, and probably intended as a study for an oil painting. Koekkoek did some excellent military subjects. Very nice indeed!

Steve

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Sat May 28, 2016 3:22 pm

You know your art rusteeze it does very much look like watercolour heightened with gouache. Be good to see the finished painting if it was ever completed.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Sun May 29, 2016 12:28 am

die art,

It might be worth your while contacting The Times to see if they hold on file a photograph of their Special Correspondent Francis Francis, as he was riding to Frith's left when he was shot. Drury Curzon Drury Lowe was riding to the right of Frith.

John Y.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Sun May 29, 2016 8:43 am

Thank you John this is just the sort of information I need. Can you please tell me where you read this account of the incident?

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Sun May 29, 2016 9:13 am

die art,

The information was supplied by Melton Prior, who witnessed Frith's demise. It accompanies the engraving based on Prior's sketch that he supplied to The Illustrated London News that appeared in the edition of 2nd August 1879.

John Y.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Sun May 29, 2016 11:42 am

Thank you John its reassuring to know that the information is from a good source i.e someone who actually witnessed the event and not secondhand.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Mon May 30, 2016 2:26 pm

Melton Prior's sketch as it appeared as an engraving in The Illustrated London News of Saturday, 2nd August 1879.

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Death of Lieutenant Frith in skirmish at Erzungahan Hill.
From a sketch by our Special artist Mr. Melton Prior.
John Young Collection.

According to to Ashe & Wyatt-Edgell's The Story of the Zulu Campaign page 301:
...In this affair poor young Frith, a capital soldier, a good adjutant, and a general favourite, was unfortunately killed. He was sitting on his horse receiving an order from Colonel Drury-Lowe, when a Martini-Henry bullet struck him, probably to the heart, as he never spoke...

In MacKinnon & Shadbolt it states ...while in the act of turning his horse at the side of his Colonel, Lieutenant Cokayne Frith was shot through the heart.

John Y.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Mon May 30, 2016 2:49 pm

Am I right in assuming that's Colonel Lowe on the right?

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Mon May 30, 2016 3:18 pm

Yes it rather contradicts what the paper published, as Drury Lowe is depicted on Frith's left, and Francis is at Frith's right arm. Unless of course his horse has turned...

There is an 1882 engraving of Drury Lowe bearded which I have somewhere which might assist as how he wore his beard.

John Y.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Mon May 30, 2016 4:04 pm

That would be great John if you do find it. And thank you for all your help, I really appreciate everything you have done. Sorry to ask you so many questions but I want every detail to be as accurate as possible.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Mon May 30, 2016 5:28 pm

die art,

Based on a photograph taken in PMB in 1881, this engraving of the then Major-General Drury Lowe appeared in The Graphic on 4th November 1882.

Like so many officers of the time he seems to have favoured a beard on campaign.

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Major-General Drury Curzon Drury Lowe, Natal 1881.
John Young Collection.

John Y.

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Having done a little more research I think the Koekkoek painting of Frith (and the second one posted by Isandula on the other thead) are probably for book illustrations. The following example by Stanley Wood was done for Bertram Mitfords "The Curse of Clement Waynflete" and is very similar in execution to Koekkoek's. It (and two others) are in the Brown University Library's Military Collection which is on line. Question is, in which book did Koekkoek's pictures appear I wonder?
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Steve

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Tue May 31, 2016 2:07 pm

Steve,

The charge of the 17th Lancers appeared in H. Evelyn Wood's British Battles on Land and Sea.

I have never seen the death of Frith produced in any work.

I'm a great admirer of Stanley Wood's work, he also produced a charge of the 17th Lancers which appeared in Brereton's With Shield & Assegai. I think I used at least three of Wood's pieces in Victoria's Harvest.

John Y.

Posts : 1183 Join date : 2015-11-24

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Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

John

I count five "Wood's" in Victoria's Harvest (may be a couple more but not sure). Including the one I posted which is on page 168!

The two illustrations posted by Xhosa demonstrate well the big change in printing techniques around the 1890's moving from lithographs, which were hand engraved (and could be quite crude in less skilled hands), to gravures which were done photographically from the artists originals. The changeover in technique is very noticeable in editions of the Illustrated London News from around that time onwards. Gravures made book illustration much cheaper and therefore much more common, but it put the engravers out of work.

It is interesting to note how many engravings from the AZW were in fact done from photographs (often noted as such in the ILN) because the photos could not be reproduced cheaply in book form at that time. The photos were invariably much better than the engravings (you must have a number in your own collection) but many have now disappeared, while only the ILN engraving remains.

Steve

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Tue May 31, 2016 7:45 pm

I can't help but notice that the retreating Zulus in 'Charge of the Seventeenth Lancers at Ulundi' are all holding their shields behind their backs just like the scene at the end of the film Zulu when the final Zulu walks off screen after 'saluting fellow braves' with his held behind his back in the same way and I'm sure I've seen this before in another print. Was this common practice with the Zulus?

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

Possibly easier to carry them in the position mentioned when retreating, theory being they thought the shield protected them from bullets, so if they turn their backs to the enemy they were protecting their backs, and they would have had a better view of where they were heading to. Or not?

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Wed Jun 01, 2016 8:53 am

I can understand to some extent why they would put their shields behind there backs for protection especially from the lances (wouldn't do a lot against a Martina Henry) but I imagine that must have slowed them right down having to carry such a large cumbersome item behind them?

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Wed Jun 01, 2016 11:16 am

die art,

In another engraving of irregulars pursuing a Zulu at Ulundi, the warrior has been illustrated in a similar way with his shield beyond his back. As well as being a defensive pose, in my own opinion, it can be construed as a submission to an inevitable fate.

Charles Edwin Fripp, an eyewitness to the event, in his rendition of the charge of 17th Lancers, shows at least one warrior shielding his back. It is feasible that The Graphic engraving is also based on Fripp's assessment as his was their special artist.

Orlando Norrie in his work on the charge of the 17th Lancers, also shows at least one warrior with his shield over his back.

Normally I would defer to a member of the Zulu Royal House for their opinion, but my usual counsel is currently not in position to answer any such queries.

John Y.

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Bonjour à tous,
The 23 January on the road to Rorke's Drift the Chelmsford's column skirted a kraal and Trooper Fred Symons of the Natal Carbineers claimed that a Zulu fled furtively his shield hung on his back.
Cheers

Frédéric

Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

John Young wrote:: die art,

In another engraving of irregulars pursuing a Zulu at Ulundi, the warrior has been illustrated in a similar way with his shield beyond his back. As well as being a defensive pose, in my own opinion, it can be construed as a submission to an inevitable fate.

Charles Edwin Fripp, an eyewitness to the event, in his rendition of the charge of 17th Lancers, shows at least one warrior shielding his back. It is feasible that The Graphic engraving is also based on Fripp's assessment as his was their special artist.

Orlando Norrie in his work on the charge of the 17th Lancers, also shows at least one warrior with his shield over his back.

Normally I would defer to a member of the Zulu Royal House for their opinion, but my usual counsel is currently not in position to answer any such queries.

John Y.

I'll go with JY

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An inevitable fate.

( Ulundi ) Photo from Ian Knight website.

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

The whole testimony of Symons has been published in the volumes of the JAZWRS (Chairman: JY) and the extract quoted in my previous post in "Zulu Rising" from IK.
Cheers

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:13 pm

The normal carry position while a warrior is on the 'march' is the shield carried on the left side of the body at around waste height.
The warriors were doctored, in general, before a fight and one of those ceremonies was to deflect bullets/spears from their shields.
If the Zulu was fleeing he would want to make the maximum speed, hence the shield would be carried to the side to allow the arms to pump. The fact the shield was held over the shoulder would slow down the bearer and I would suggest that the only reason he would be willing to do that was to give him the protection of having his back covered.

CHEERS

Posts : 42 Join date : 2010-11-05 Location : Texas

I have two pictures of Frith's grave and the surrounding area, but I don't know how to attach them.

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Frank Allewell wrote:: The warriors were doctored, in general, before a fight and one of those ceremonies was to deflect bullets/spears from their shields.
.

CHEERS

Bonjour frank, all,
I'm always surprised by this comment. Zulu had guns: they never checked if the "magic" was effective against bullets.

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

Sounds like it was a need to know bases.

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

whatever the alias used, spiritual as usual.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Thu Jun 02, 2016 9:37 pm

Hi dlancast

I would really like to have a look at the pictures you have but I don't know how to attach them either...can anyone help?

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

Send them to Admin!

Posts : 42 Join date : 2010-11-05 Location : Texas

I believe I figured out how to attach the pictures. It is a really barren place and was very foggy that day, which made it a very lonely feeling.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Fri Jun 03, 2016 7:26 pm

Hi dlancast

Can you please tell me where you read about it being barren and foggy on the day?

Posts : 42 Join date : 2010-11-05 Location : Texas

No, the day that I took the pictures was foggy. I have passed them on to Admin to post correctly.

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Sat Jun 04, 2016 8:15 pm

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Photos by Diancast

Subject: Re: PAINTING OF FRITH Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:22 am

Thanks Diancast I got your pics from Admin. Much appreciated. Salute

» Lt F.J.C. Frith
» Sergeant F Tredgold 17th Lancers his diary charge at Ulundi and death of Lt. Frith
» Butler's Painting