Lady Butler

ELIZABETH SOUTHERDEN THOMPSON "LADY BUTLER" (Switzerland. h, 1846- Ireland 1933).
"The Ulans in a French Village," 1872.
Watercolor on paper.
Signed with anagram and dated in the lower right corner.
Measurements: 37 x 51 cm; 72 x 84 cm (frame).
This work, a watercolor study, depicts a cavalry charge by the Ulans (light cavalrymen armed with lances) against French infantry in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. The painting is known for its dynamic and detailed depiction of combat.
Elizabeth Southerden Thompson was born in Switzerland, although she was of English nationality. She grew up in a cultured and artistic environment and from an early age showed a great talent for drawing and painting. She studied at the South Kensington School of Art (now the Royal College of Art) in London, where she received a solid academic education. She later continued her studies in Florence, Italy.
She specialized in historical and military painting, a genre that at the time was dominated almost exclusively by men. Her great leap to fame came in 1874, when she presented her painting "The Roll Call" (The Roll Call) at the Royal Academy in London, which was purchased by Queen Victoria for her personal collection.
Following this success, Lady Butler continued to paint military scenes. Her approach was characterized by a deep human and moral sense, showing the sacrifice and hardship of the common soldier's life, rather than glorifying war.In 1877, she married Sir William Francis Butler, a British Army officer. From then on she was known as Lady Butler. She accompanied her husband on various military postings throughout the British Empire, including Ireland, Egypt and South Africa. These experiences reinforced her interest in the military world and her empathy for the soldiers.
After her husband's death in 1910, Lady Butler retired from public life and settled in Ireland. In 1922 she published her memoirs, "From Sketch-Book and Diary", where she recounted her artistic life and her reflections on art and war.
She died on October 2, 1933, at the age of 86, in Gormanston, Ireland.
Lady Butler was one of the few women of the 19th century to achieve international fame in the historical genre. Her work combines realism, empathy and patriotism, but always from a humanist perspective, focusing on the experience of the common soldier.
She was a pioneer in breaking down gender barriers in British art and remains a leading figure in the history of military art.