|
|
|
Robert Gibb Military Art
Military Prints Robert Gibb |
Military Art by the Great British Victorian Military Painter Robert Gibb, published by Cranston Fine arts, from paintings owned by British regiments and Art Galleries between 1989 and 1994. Robert Gibb Following his schooling in Edinburgh
where he demonstrated early skills with the pencil, he began to attend drawing
classes at the Board of Manufacturers' School and the Life School of the Royal
Scottish Academy. It was at the Academy that the 25 year-old artist exhibited
his first painting in 1867 - an Arran landscape. This would be the first of no
fewer than 143 paintings by him exhibited at the RSA during his lifetime.
However, it was not landscapes that he was to make his reputation but with
figure studies, and some of his earliest work focused on great events in his
nation's history, 1874 saw his painting of "Columba in sight of Iona"
followed two years later by "The Death of Columba". His early interest in pictures illustrating Scottish history and portraits of
eminent men gave way to a focus on military themes particularly depicting the
Scottish soldier in battle. In 1887, his first military picture, Comrades, was
exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA). Gibb had been studying the life
of Naopleon and had made a sketch of the retreat from Moscow. On seeing the
group of three soldiers in the foreground, one of whom had fallen in the snow, a
colleague suggested that this vignette would make a suitable subject for a
composition. The result was Comrades, where a young soldier whispers his last
message to a comrade who comforts him amidst the snow in the Crimea, both being
guarded by a stalwart highlander. The following year, Gibb exhibited a finished
picture slightly modified of the The Retreat from Moscow. This work was
transposing the Scottish soldiers with Napoleonic figures. Behind the column of
French soldiers trudge wearily through the snow into the distance. A similar
picture to Comrades was his 1884 piece, Schoolmates depicting two highland
officers in the heat of battle, one falling wounded into the arms of the other. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text for the above items : |
Backs to the Wall by Robert Gibb. The painting was inspired by Sir Douglas Haig's famous Special Order of the Day at the time of the Great German Offensive of April 1918. …There is no other course open to us but to fight it out. Every position must be held to the last man: there must be no retirement. With our backs to the wall, and believing in the justice of our cause, each one of us must fight on to the end… This painting was Robert Gibb's final battle scene painted after the War and towards the end of his life. He died in Edinburgh in 1932. With our Backs to the Wall has become a saying in familiar use to many people even to this day when faced with a monumental task against overwhelming odds. |
The Guards at Inkerman, November 5th 1854 by Robert Gibb. No text for this item |
Hougoumont by Robert Gibb. Showing the 1st Foot Guards and The Coldstream Guards struggling to close the gates at Hougoumont Farm against the Heavy French forces at the Height of the the battle of waterloo. During the Battle of waterloo the 1st Foot Guards and the Coldstream Guards losses were as follows. 1st Foot Guards, 125 Killed, 352 Wounded, and the Coldstream Guards losses, were 97 killed and 446 wounded and four missing. |
Letters from Home by Robert Gibb. Sutherland Highlander Officers, are shown in camp, reading letters from home, during the Crimean war. |
Comrades by Robert Gibb. A dying soldier of the Black Watch is supported by his comrade, while another stands to protect them, as the ranks of the Highlanders march on, after the battles at Sebastopol during the Crimean war. |
Comrades by Robert Gibb. A dying soldier of the Black Watch is supported by his comrade, while another stands to protect them, as the ranks of the Highlanders march on, after the battles at Sebastopol during the Crimean war. |
Alma Forward the 42nd by Robert Gibb. The Black Watch advance up the slopes of the hills overlooking the River Alma, defeating the Russian defenders. A British Victory in the Crimean Campaign. |
The Thin Red Line by Robert Gibb. There is no retreat from here, men! said General Sir Colin Campbell (who at that moment may have said to have commanded the regiment in person) as he cantered along the front of the 93rd You must die where you stand To which some of the Highlanders replied cheerily Ay Ay, Sir Colin if needs be well do that. Nearer and nearer the Russian Squadrons approached - the ground trembling beneath their horses feet, and gathering speed at every stride, they galloped on towards that thin red streak, topped with steel the Sutherland Highlanders awaited the onslaught of the enemys horsemen in line, without a movement in their ranks. I would not even form four deep! was the reply of Sir Colin, when remonstrated with for giving the Russians such a chance. Cool as if on Birthday parade The Sutherlands stood until their foes were within 600 yards, then down on their knees they dropped the front rank, and delivered a steady volley. But the distance was too great, and, though a few saddles were emptied, the Russians pressed forward unchecked. On they rode, till scarcely 200 yards separated them from the intrepid Highlanders. When the rear rank brought their Minies to the present and over the heads of their kneeling comrades pourd a withering fire into the enemys masses.Shaken to their very centre, the Russian Squadrons fell back, but, encouraged by their gallant leaders, they determined to make one last bid for victory, and wheeling around, endeavored to turn the Highlanders right flank. here they were checkmated by the grenadier Company, which received the charge with such a volley, that the Russians went Files about and scampered off to seek the shelter of their guns. |
Dargai by Robert Gibb. The 1st Gordon Highlanders about to take the heights of Dargai which were held by the Afridis. During the engagement on the 20th October 1897, the regiment lost three Officers and thirty men. |
Contact Details |
Sign Up To Our Newsletter!
This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com
|
|