Intelligence of the Battle of Ligny, 1815

Coloured aquatint by J C Stadler after William Heath, published by Thomas Tegg, 1 April 1818.

This print depicts the moment when the Duke of Wellington received news of the Battle of Ligny (16 June 1815). The duke was attending the Duchess of Richmond's ball alongside many other Allied officers. Although Ligny was a defeat for Field Marshal Blücher, the bulk of his Prussian Army survived and went on to play a key role at the Battle of Waterloo two days later.