Sketches made during the Campaign of 1854-55 in the Crimea, Circassia and Constantinople

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Classical Antiquity Marine

Dominant colour

Sketches made during the Campaign of 1854-55 in the Crimea, Circassia and Constantinople is a 19 by William Simpson, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: William Simpson
When & what style?: 19 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This page is covered in quick, loose sketches of small boats and a few notes in messy handwriting. The drawings show different views of the boats—some from the side, one from above—and a few tools like a paddle and a powder keg. The lines are light and sketchy, almost like doodles, with some cross-hatching for shading. The notes talk about a man named Sheppard trying to sneak up on Russian ships in the dark. The text says he used these boats for attacks, but it didn’t always go as planned. If you like these rough, fast sketches, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shading with lines.

The story of this work

Overview

A drawing by William Simpson, created during the 1854–55 Crimean campaign, depicts a canoe modified to carry gunpowder for use by British forces in an attempt to destroy Russian ships at Sebastopol.

Read the full account in the museum source.