Lot 559: PRIOR, MELTON.

Sketches of the Zulu War by Melton Prior, 1879 (titled thus on portfolio). An album of drawings in pencil, watercolour and bodycolour, all signed and dated by the artist, the sheets mounted to size and bound in a morocco-backed album (732 x 530mm.), housed in a morocco portfolio with wooden mounts and brass clasp (defective), titled in gilt on upper cover, large folio (600 x 830mm.), 1879

CATALOGUE NOTE

The first drawing shows Sir Thomas Hesketh galloping in to inform General Lord Chelmsford of developments in battle.

Melton Prior (1845-1910) was a noted artist-reporter in the employ of, among others, the Illustrated London News. He was described by that publication as "the doyen of war artists"; during his career he covered conflicts in Africa, South America, Burma and other locations.

"Through his work in the Illustrated London News, Prior helped shape the Victorian public's perceptions of the empire and of war. His pictures remain useful historical sources and have been much reproduced, particularly in works of military history" (Oxford DNB).