The Fall of Sebastopol, 1856 (w/c)

The Fall of Sebastopol, 1856. Watercolour by William Simpson (1823-1899), Crimean War, 1856. This atmospheric watercolour depicts Russian soldiers evacuating Sevastopol either across an overcrowded pontoon bridge, or by boat, to the north side of the harbour on the night of 8 September 1856. The sky above Sevastopol is lit-up by the burning town, put to the torch by the retreating Russian forces. This is the largest known example of the artist’s work and was purchased directly from him for the considerable sum of £60 by Henry Pelham Pelham-Clinton, Fifth Duke of Newcastle (1811-1864).