This original hand-coloured engraving from the Illustrated London News captures a tense moment of military preparation during the Anglo-Zulu War. Titled “The Zulu War: ‘Ready!’ at General Newdigate’s Head-Quarters, Landman’s Drift”, the composition is based on a field sketch by renowned war artist Melton Prior, whose vivid reporting brought the realities of British campaigns to a wide Victorian audience.
The scene shows British troops in formation at Landman’s Drift, a key staging ground during the latter phase of the war. Soldiers in red and dark uniforms, wearing white pith helmets, kneel and stand in ranks before a tented encampment, receiving orders from their officers. At left, a mounted figure and a regimental bugler stand ready for action, while in the distance more troops marshal on the field. The atmosphere is one of discipline, tension, and anticipation, heightened by the subdued tones of the overcast sky and muddy terrain.
This engraving is finely hand-coloured, with rich detail and subtle shading that bring the scene to life. It is mounted in a cream-coloured mat.
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Image size: 12 x 8.5 inches
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Overall dimensions with matting: 19 x 15 inches
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Condition: Very good, with strong original hand-colouring; mild toning to edges. Cleanly matted and ready for framing.
A vivid and historically rich illustration, ideal for collectors of Anglo-Zulu War material, Victorian military prints, or works by Melton Prior.
