Furniture & Works of Art - 7th October 2014

Lot 647

Zulu Campaign Interest. Harold Malet. Carrying the body of the Prince Imperial to the British...

Estimate £200 - £300 | Hammer £2600

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Description

Zulu Campaign Interest. Harold Malet. Carrying the body of the Prince Imperial to the British Camp in 1879, oil on canvas, signed and dated 1882, the verso inscribed 'Carrying the body of the Prince Imperial to the British Camp in 1879, orig. was accepted by The Empress having been drawn by me by order of the Queen 1880, H. Malet, Major, XVIII Hussars,' 35 x 76.5cm.

Prince Imperial Napoleon Bonaparte was the only son of Napoleon III of France and Empress Eugenie and after his father's dethroning in 1870 he moved to England. He trained as a soldier and was keen to see action. By putting pressure on the Queen he eventually was posted to Africa as an observer, but on June 1st 1879 he was killed after a skirmish with a group of Zulus.