This original hand-coloured wood-engraving, published in the Illustrated London News, dramatically depicts the defence of the British laager at the Battle of Gingindlovu during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. The scene is based on sketches made on-site by Royal Navy Lieutenant Smith-Dorrien and offers a vivid representation of the moment when British bluejackets repelled a determined Zulu assault.
On the right, sailors from HMS Shah and HMS Active are shown manning the barricades, firing out into the smoke of battle. At left, members of the Natal Native Contingent—Zulu auxiliaries serving with the British—are depicted crouched behind their traditional shields, waiting in reserve. The composition also includes compelling human details: a wounded sailor binds his arm in the foreground, while officers issue commands amid the chaos. The image fuses military realism with Victorian narrative drama.
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Image size: 17.5 x 12.5 inches
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Overall dimensions with matting: 25 x 20.5 inches
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Condition: Very good, with strong original hand-colouring and only light age-related toning to the margins. Mounted in a cream-coloured mat, ready for framing.
A powerful and historically resonant illustration, this is an ideal acquisition for collectors of Anglo-Zulu War material, Victorian military art, or Illustrated London News engravings.
