'A General Group', 1900

Chromolithograph after Sir Leslie Matthew Ward ('Spy') (1851-1922), printed by Vincent Brooks, Day and Son Limited, published by 'Vanity Fair', 29 November 1900.

On the day that this caricature was published Field Marshal Lord Roberts formally relinquished command of the forces in South Africa to Major General Lord Kitchener, who was immediately promoted lieutenant-general with the local rank of general. At that time the appointments held by those represented (left to right) were as follows: Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Hunter, Commander, 10th Division; Brigadier General Herbert Plumer, Staff; Major General Hector MacDonald, Commander 3rd Brigade; General Sir Redvers Buller, General Officer Commanding, Natal (formerly General Commanding-in-Chief, South Africa); Major General Robert Baden-Powell, Staff, employed with the South African Constabulary; Field Marshal Lord Roberts, Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief the Forces, South Africa; Major General Lord Dundonald, Commander, 3rd Mounted Brigade; Major General Lord Kitchener, Chief of Staff, South Africa; Lieutenant General Reginald Pole-Carew, Commander, 11th Division; General George White, Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Gibraltar (formerly Lieutenant-General, Natal; defender of Ladysmith); Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Carrington, Staff, Rhodesian Field Force and Lieutenant General John French, Commander, Cavalry Division.

The magazine 'Vanity Fair' was first published on 1 January 1869 and the caricatures, originally issued weekly, became a popular feature, though groups such as this appeared only rarely.

The artist, Leslie Ward, who was knighted in 1919, contributed more than half the caricatures published in 'Vanity Fair' between 1873 and 1909. He adopted the pseudonym 'Spy', defined as 'an observer', and described in an interview in 'The Strand Magazine' (July-December 1894) how, when caricaturing a subject, he tried 'to catch hold of the leading feature and slightly, very slightly, exaggerate'.