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Buonaparte Ordering Five Hundred & Eighty of his wounded Soldiers to be poisoned at Jaffa

Robert Ker, Sir Porter

1803

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Buonaparte Ordering Five Hundred & Eighty of his wounded Soldiers to be poisoned at Jaffa is a 1803 watercolor by Robert Ker, Sir Porter, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Robert Ker, Sir Porter
When & what style?: 1803 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This sketch shows two men in military uniforms. One stands tall, pointing at something in the distance, while the other leans in, gesturing with his hands. Around them, smaller figures watch or react, drawn quickly with loose lines. The scene looks tense, with rough, sketchy strokes filling the page. The artist used quick, uneven lines to show action and emotion. This style fits the dramatic subject—an event meant to shock. The sketch feels urgent, like a fast-drawn record of a moment. Next, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.

The story of this work

Overview

This watercolour drawing depicts an event from 1799 in which Napoleon Bonaparte allegedly ordered the poisoning of approximately 580 of his wounded soldiers at Jaffa. Created by Sir Robert Ker Porter in 1803, the work was later published as an etching in London as part of a British propaganda campaign against Napoleon. The drawing is noted for its historical context and its possible influence on Francisco Goya’s later depictions of Napoleonic violence. It was acquired from C. Powney in June 1965.

Read the full account in the museum source.