Lot 57: George Jones, RA (British, 1786-1869) The Burial of Sir John Moore after Corunna

George Jones, RA (British, 1786-1869)
The Burial of Sir John Moore after Corunna
signed 'Geo Jones' (lower right)
oil on canvas
71.1 x 109.2cm (28 x 43in).
Footnotes

Provenance
Commissioned by Colonel Paul Anderson.
Thence by family descent.

Exhibited
London, Royal Academy, 1834, no. 408.
London, British Institution, 1835. no 272.
Loaned by the family for display at Wellington College, Berkshire.

Literature
C. Oman, Sir John Moore, London, 1953, p. 685.
C. Hibbert, Corunna, London, 1961, (illustrated p. 118, fig 41).
P. Harrington, 'The Battle Paintings of George Jones, R.A. (1786-1869)', Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol. LXVII, No. 272, Winter 1989, p. 240-241.

"Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note,
As his corse to the rampart we hurried;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
O'er the grave where our hero was buried.

[...]

Slowly and sadly we laid him down,
From the field of his fame fresh and gory;
We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone,
But we left him alone with his glory!"

An extract from Charles Wolfe (1791-1823) 'The Burial of Sir John Moore after Corunna', written in 1816.

Charles Wolfe's famous poem has immortalised the events surrounding the death and burial of Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore (1761-1809), commander of the British Army during the battle of Corunna and cemented his position as a famous and celebrated military figure. Moreover, the battle has become seen as a significant juncture in the narrative of British military history and often presented as a glorious withdrawal and rear-guard action with a beleaguered and battered British force heroically repulsing an overwhelming French army.

Moore's army engaged in a desperate retreat through northern Spain and Portugal during the winter of 1808-9. They were constantly forced in to rear-guard actions by the pursuing French army commanded by Marshall Soult. The conditions and terrain encountered on the retreat were dreadful with deep snow and bitter cold. This severely hampered communication and there was widespread confusion and a break down in order among some British units.

By mid-January 1809 the British Army had reached Corunna where a fleet waited for their embarkation. Moore arrayed the vast majority of his infantry in a defensive ring around the town and port. The 16th January saw bitter fighting right across the British defensive line, nightfall brought an end to the fighting with the French attacks having been repeatedly repulsed. During the night the large majority of the British army was evacuated and a small Spanish garrison held the citadel allowing the British rear-guard to embark.

Moore himself was struck by cannon shot and although mortally wounded managed to retain consciousness long enough to be assured that he had gained victory. Some of his last words were spoken to his old friend and aide de camp Colonel Paul Anderson "You know I always wished to die this way, I hope the people of England will be satisfied. I hope my country will do me justice." Moore was buried wrapped in a military cloak in the ramparts of the town. When the French took the town, a monument was built over his grave by the orders of Marshal Soult. The monument was rebuilt and made permanent in 1811.

Anderson, by now a Lieutenant-General, commissioned this painting by George Jones sometime after the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars and although it was exhibited long after the battle itself the composition was drawn from Anderson's personal recollection. It is likely that Anderson also commissioned two other paintings by Jones depicting the death of Sir John Moore and Moore mortally wounded, unfortunately both of these works were destroyed in the bombing of Bristol in 1940. The present lot, however, has remained in Anderson's family for over one hundred and eighty years and this is the first time it has appeared on the market. This painting can be regarded as one of, if not the, most significant artistic representations of this historic moment.