Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Napoleon’s Battlefields: Views of Les Quatre Bras and La Belle Alliance, 1815

About the Item

Napoleon’s Battlefields: Views of Les Quatre Bras and La Belle Alliance, 1815 Description: This historically significant engraving, published in 1816 as part of The Campaign of Waterloo, presents two key locations from the Napoleonic Wars: Les Quatre Bras and La Belle Alliance. Both sites played crucial roles in the events leading up to and following Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo on June 18, 1815. The upper engraving depicts Les Quatre Bras, the strategic crossroads where, on June 16, 1815, British and Dutch forces under the Duke of Wellington clashed with Marshal Ney’s French troops. The crossroads were of vital importance, as control of this junction determined whether Napoleon’s forces could advance northward toward Brussels. The scene, however, is tranquil, with civilians, soldiers, and a carriage moving through the village, illustrating how the war-torn landscape was slowly returning to normal life in the weeks following the battle. The architecture, including traditional Flemish farmhouses and barns, adds to the authenticity of the depiction. The lower engraving shows La Belle Alliance, a small inn located near the battlefield of Waterloo. This location became synonymous with the final moments of the battle, as it was where the Prussian commander, Field Marshal Blücher, and Wellington supposedly met after their combined forces secured victory over Napoleon. The image presents a peaceful rural landscape with scattered buildings, remnants of battle scars, and groups of soldiers and civilians. The distant ruins and open fields hint at the immense struggle that had taken place just weeks earlier. The detailed execution of these engravings, with their soft color palette and careful rendering of figures and landscapes, reflects the early 19th-century British fascination with Napoleonic military history. Published by Robert Bowyer, this piece served as both a commemorative and documentary work for collectors eager to own a visual account of the war that reshaped Europe. Today, it remains a valuable historical artifact, offering insights into the aftermath of Napoleon’s downfall. Condition Report: Paper in good condition with light foxing and minor edge wear. Colors remain strong with excellent detail and clarity. Some handling marks but no major creases or tears. Slight discoloration along the margins. A well-preserved example suitable for display or collection. Framing Tips: - Use acid-free, museum-grade matting to protect the paper from degradation. A neutral-colored mat will enhance the historical aesthetic. - UV-protective glass or acrylic is recommended to prevent fading and preserve the original vibrancy of the colors. - A period-appropriate wooden frame, preferably dark-stained or gilded, will complement the engraving’s classical style. - Display in a dry, cool environment away from direct sunlight or excessive humidity to maintain its condition. This striking engraving is both a piece of military history and a fine work of art, making it an excellent addition to any collection focused on the Napoleonic era.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13.59 in (34.5 cm)Width: 19.3 in (49 cm)Depth: 0.01 in (0.2 mm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Paper,Engraved
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1816
  • Condition:
    Good condition with light foxing and minor edge wear. Colors remain strong with excellent detail and clarity. Some handling marks but no major creases or tears. Slight discoloration along the margins. A well-preserved example suitable for display.
  • Seller Location:
    Langweer, NL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BG-13931-31stDibs: LU3054344116002

More From This Seller

View All
Napoleon’s Last Stand: Views of Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte After Waterloo
Located in Langweer, NL
Napoleon’s Last Stand: Views of Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte After Waterloo Description: This rare engraving, published in 1816 as part of *The Campaign of Waterloo*, presents...
Category

Antique 1810s Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Satirical Print of Napoleon Fleeing from the Battlefield '1815'
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Buonaparte au Mont St. Jean, fait usage de son talisment ordinaire'. Rare satirical print of Napoleon fleeing from the battlefield. He is similarly dressed except that he wears a cuirass, the back and front joined by straps, and his empty scabbard hangs at his side. He looks over his shoulder at his little son (right) who runs after him, holding up a toy windmill on a stick. Napoleon's sabre and star of the Legion of Honour lie on the ground (right). The child, styled in France during the Hundred Days Prince Imperial...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

The Battle of Waterloo: The British Repel Napoleon’s Final Attack, June 18, 1815
Located in Langweer, NL
The Battle of Waterloo: The British Repel Napoleon’s Final Attack, June 18, 1815 Description: This dramatic and finely detailed engraving, published in 1816 as part of 'The Cam...
Category

Antique 1810s Prints

Materials

Paper

Napoleon's Defeat at Waterloo: Captured French Cannons Removed on July 24, 1815
Located in Langweer, NL
Napoleon's Defeat at Waterloo: French Cannons Seized and Transported, July 1815 This finely crafted engraving, published in 1816, captures a significa...
Category

Antique 1810s Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of the Opening of Napoleon’s Casket on St. Helena. 'c.1900'
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Eröffnung des Sarges des Kaisers Napoleon auf der Insel St. Helena am 16 Ockt 1840'. Original antique print of the opening of Napoleon’s casket...
Category

Early 20th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Napoleon's Final Voyage: HMS Bellerophon on the Waters of Exile, 1872
Located in Langweer, NL
This original antique image is a print depicting the H.M.S. Bellerophon, a ship of the British Royal Navy. The print is rendered in a monochromatic color scheme with subtle hand colo...
Category

Antique 1870s Prints

Materials

Paper

You May Also Like

View of the Palazzo Pamphili and Piazza Navona in Rome by Le Geuy, 1767
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Engraving on laid paper of the Piazza Navona in Rome. The view is expansive, with the Fontana del Moro in the foreground, the Fiumi Fountain in the center of the piazza, and the dome...
Category

Antique 1760s British Prints

Materials

Paper

Vintage David Schneuer Madame in Red La Belle Serigraph Print
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Striking expressionist lithograph print by David Schneuer. La Belle / Madame in Red / Dame in Rot. Pencil Signed.
Category

20th Century Unknown Expressionist Prints

Materials

Paper

Lithograph of Napoleon
Located in East Hampton, NY
Colored lithograph of Napoleon in custom gilt frame and needlepoint matte.
Category

Early 20th Century Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Lithographie par Henri Rivière Les Aspects de la Nature - Le Cap
By Henri Riviere
Located in NANTES, FR
Authentic Antique Lithograph – Signed This lithograph, “Les Aspects de la Nature – Le Cap,” is signed by Henri Rivière in the lower left corner. The artwork is authentic and dates f...
Category

20th Century French Prints

Materials

Paper

A View of the Ruins of the Pantheon at Athens by Julien-David Le Roy, 1758
By Le Roy
Located in Kenilworth, IL
“A View of the Ruins of the Pantheon built by Adrian at Athens” (Vue des Ruines du Pantheon bati par Adrien a Athenes) is an engraving from one of Classical Greek architectural struc...
Category

Antique 1750s French Prints

Materials

Paper

Paul Jacoulet, La Mariee (1948) and Le Marie (1950), Framed Woodblock Prints
By Paul Jacoulet
Located in Austin, TX
A fantastic and iconic pair of Paul Jacoulet (1906 - 1960) mid century woodblock prints "La Marieé, Seoul, Corée" ("The Bride, Seoul, Korea"), 19...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Prints

Materials

Metal

Recently Viewed

View All