'Shocking Sights of Woe': David Wilkie, Charles Bell and the Battle of Waterloo, Professor Philip Sh

The first part of this talk will focus on the influence of Charles Bell's Essays on the Anatomy of Expression in Painting (1806) on the composition of David Wilkie's 'Chelsea Pensioners receiving the London Gazette Extraordinary of Thursday June 22nd, 1815' (1822). A renowned surgeon and anatomist, Charles Bell was also a witness to the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo (1815). Looking closely at a selection of his sketches of wounded soldiers, in tandem with case notes, letters and other printed materials, the second part of the talk will consider how the battlefield surgeon, operating under conditions of extreme duress, sought to give expression to feelings of melancholy and depression over the human costs of victory. The talk will conclude with some reflections on Bell's and Wilkie's contrasting images of war. Please note this event is taking place at Army & Navy Club, 36 - 39 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5JN.
Admission
Lunchtime Lectures are FREE but must be booked in advance by telephoning: 020 7730 0717 or email: vs@nam.ac.uk. Bookings close three days before each lecture. All talks take place at the Army & Navy Club at 12.30pm.

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk//se000573?id=EVENT515432