Exhibited Gallery

Our ?Little Contemptibles?, 1914

Our ?Little Contemptibles?, 1914.Oil on canvas by William Barns Wollen (1857-1936), 1918 (c); exhibited at the Royal Academy 1918 (No 260).Composed of regular soldiers and reservists, the British Expeditionary Force landed on the Continent in August in 1914. During the early months of World War One (1914-1918) it was engaged in slowing down the German advance. This painting depicts open warfare with British infantry wearing large packs, taking cover behind a hedge; German artillery in the distance. The British Army?s experiences in the Boer War (1899-1902) had resulted in major reforms in organization, administration, tactics, weapons and equipment. Introduced in 1906, the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle, shown in this painting, enabled troops to produce very rapid, accurate fire. Infantry training now placed more emphasis on the ability to shoot straight and fast, and on mobility. These professional soldiers, drilled in new methods of attack, defence, and withdrawal, were taught to take greater advantage of cover.The title of the canvas relates to an order given by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany (1859 -1941) to the commander of his First Army, Alexander von Kluck (1846-1934), in August, 1914:- ?It is my Royal and Imperial Command that you concentrate your energies? and all the valour of my soldiers to exterminate first the treacherous English; walk over General French's insignificant [or contemptible] little Army. In fact the German advance was checked, and the men of the British and Indian Expeditionary Forces who survived these heavy engagements proudly adopted the ironic title, ?The Old Contemptibles?. These men who served between the outbreak of war and midnight on 22 November 1914 were awarded the 1914 Star.In the 1880s, the artist, William Barns Wollen, served in the 20th (Artists?) Volunteer Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort?s Own), popularly known as the Artists? Rifles. Date: 1914

© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library

Items in the Tudor Exhibition, 1890

Engraving showing a number of relics from the sixteenth century exhibited in the Tudor Exhibition of 1890. The items pictured include: Henry VIII's hat (top right), jewelled dagger (middle right) and shoes (bottom middle) and Anne Boleyn's Toilet Case (middle left) and White feather tippet (bottom middle). At bottom left is the Garrick Vase, an ornate cup, carved from a mulberry tree planted by William Shakespeare

© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10217695

Dr Schliemann's Trojan antiquities on view, London 1877

The antiquities found at Hissarlik (Hisarlik, modern Turkey), on the plains of Troy, by Heinrich Schliemann during his remarkable excavations, on view at the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum) in 1877. 1, 2 and 3: gold headdresses; 4, 5, 6: gold earrings; 7: silver vase; 8: cup, mixture of gold and silver; 9: gold bottle; 10: gold cup; 11: silver vase; 12: silver cup; 13: gold drinking-vessel; 14: copper key of box containing the treasure; 15: silver pieces; 16: gold ornaments; 17: gold object. Date: 1877

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans