Group at Headquarters, 1855

Photograph by Roger Fenton (1819-1869), Crimean War, 1855.

Traditionally the British public had had to rely on written descriptions or artists' impressions for images of foreign wars, but Fenton's photographs were something of a revelation. They enabled a more accurate description of scenes than could be gleaned from paintings, prints and drawings alone. This image depicts, from left to right: Lord Francis William Henry Burghersh, an aide-de-camp, Colonel Vico, Lord Raglan, Marshal Pélissier, Spahi and aide-de-camp.