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Home! The Return From Crimea

Printmaker: Ryall, Henry Thomas · 1811-1867Publisher: McClure, James · 1799-1868Publisher: Hill, Alexander · 1800-1866

Home! The Return From Crimea

Paton's original oil was exhibited at the Royal Academy Annual Exhibition in 1856 (where it was given the subtitle; 'The Soldier's Return', quoting a…

Paton's original oil was exhibited at the Royal Academy Annual Exhibition in 1856 (where it was given the subtitle; 'The Soldier's Return', quoting a much-illustrated title of a poem by Robert Burns), just two months after the Treaty of Paris has concluded the hostilities of the Crimean War which had raged from March 1854 to February 1856. The original painting (now in Norfolk, VA, Chrysler Museum of Art; 2006.5.1) was purchased from the RA exhibition by the Colliery owner and contemporary art collector, William Wilson of Banknock near Denny in Stirlingshire. Such had been the impact of the painting's reception (both Lady Eastlake and Queen Victoria had written favourably of its emotional punch) however that Paton was commissioned by Queen Victoria to provide a smaller replica of the work to be given as a Christmas present to the Prince Consort (Royal Collections Trust; RCIN 406954), for which he was paid £400 in March 1860. It has been suggested that the figure grouping is evocative of a Lamentation featurning Christ, The Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, whilst the presence of certain symbols, such as the illuminated church spire, and the open Bible, all combine in evoking a strong sense of the power of the Christian faith in overcoming adversity.

co-publisher with James McClure of Glasgow

co-publisher with Alexander Hill of Edinburgh