'Wellington & Blucher Meeting by accident at the close of the Battle of Waterloo', 1815

Aquatint drawn by I M Clark from a sketch by an officer, engraved by M Dubourg, published and sold July 1st 1816. From 'Historic, Military and Naval anecdotes, of personal valour, bravery and particular incidents which occurred to the armies of Great Britain, 1803-15, and her allies, in the last long-contested war terminating with the Battle of Waterloo', published by Edward Orme, 1819.

The Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815 was the last great battle of the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) and marked the end of France's attempt to dominate Europe. The Allied commander, the Duke of Wellington, called the battle 'the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life'. The outcome of the battle was in doubt until late afternoon when Blücher's Prussians arrived in force and broke through Napoleon's right flank. This print depicts the meeting of the two commanders by torchlight in the aftermath of battle.