Historically Inspiring No 5 - An Incident in the Rebellion of 1745.

An incident in the rebellion of 1745, by David Morier

Another one of my historically inspiring painting's is, The Battle of Culloden 1746, by David Morier.

I've previously painted and owned armies for both the English and Scots, for the Battle of Culloden in both 15mm and 25mm. Due to lack of funds, I had to sell both. My fellow Reject, Postie buying them all. Although he now wants me to buy back the 25mm figures, I must admit to being sorely tempted, but my financial adviser, (the wife), doesn't seem to agree! Maybe one day eh? For some reason I seem to be drawn the Lace War period, at the moment I'm painting figures for both the Nine Years War and the French Indian Wars.

     This is a painting depicting the Battle of Culloden in 1746, during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, where the Jacobite army was defeated by Hanovarian troops. It was painted in 1746, not long after the battle. The artist is said to have used Jacobite prisoners for his models of the tartan, trews, and great kilt/belted-plaid wearing Jacobite soldiers, and for this reason the painting is considered a reliable depiction of Highland male clothing of the time. In particular, that some of the individual Jacobite soldiers are shown wearing several different tartan patterns all at the same time is considered a significant indication of the lack of a "clan tartan" concept at the time.
     The picture portrays the Jacobite attack on Barrells, The Kings Own Regiment of Foot, (later the 4th Foot), In a matter of minutes Barrells's regiment lost 17 men and suffered 108 wounded out of a total of 373 officers and men, including their commander Richard Rich who lost his left hand and nearly his right arm. Barrell's were smashed apart and temporarily lost their colours!

      David Morier was born at Bern, Switzerland. Nothing is known of his early career before 1743 when he was introduced to William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, by Sir Everard Fawkener, possibly in Germany where the Duke was on campaign. His first notable painting was an equestrian portrait of George II (Royal Collection), with a view of the battle of Dettingen (27 June 1743) beyond, which was later engraved by Francis Simon Ravenet and published by the artist.

     Morier is principally known for small military equestrian portraits with battles or reviews in the background, including many of the duke of Cumberland and several of George II, and also for depictions of soldiers, detailing their uniform (principally in the Royal Collection and at Wilton House, Wiltshire). In 1746 he undertook a commission to commemorate the Duke's victory against the Jacobites, The Battle of Culloden (Royal Collection). The present work is likely to have been undertaken during the same period. In 1747 Morier accompanied his patron to the Low Countries, painting Royal Artillery in the Netherlands and a series of sixty pictures of the allied troops under the duke's command (all of which are in The Royal Collection). In 1751 the first British uniform regulations were issued by royal warrant and Morier, made Limner to the duke with a salary of £100, embarked on further series, including the light dragoon regiments raised in 1759 and 1760. When the Duke of Cumberland died in 1765, his second home, Cranbourn Lodge, Berkshire, housed 106 of these paintings and only works by Morier hung in the picture gallery.
     A founder member of the Society of Artists, Morier exhibited at its first show in 1760, and then in 1762, 1765, and 1768. In the mid-1760s he undertook an important commission for the earl of Pembroke, which included eight paintings of the 15th light dragoons. He also produced several small paintings for George III for 10 guineas apiece, but after June 1767 royal patronage ceased and he fell into financial difficulty from 1768 until he died at Clerkenwell, London, in early January 1770. He was buried on 8 January at St James's, Clerkenwell Green, at the expense of the Society of Artists.