Photo, Print, Drawing Theodore, Negus Hegyst, of Abyssinia.
About this Item
Title
- Theodore, Negus Hegyst, of Abyssinia.
Summary
- In 1868, The Illustrated London News commissioned the Scottish artist William Simpson (1823--99) to cover a military campaign launched by Britain against Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia) to rescue several British officials and missionaries held by the Emperor Theodore (also called Tewodros II, ruled 1855--68). The commission was Simpson's first major work for the Illustrated London News and the beginning of a long relationship with the paper that ended only with his death. This watercolor is Simpson's depiction of Theodore. After the hostages were freed, the British forces launched a punitive attack on the emperor's fortress of Magdala. Rather than face the ignominy of being taken prisoner, Theodore committed suicide, reportedly using a pistol that had been a gift from Queen Victoria. The watercolor is from the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection at the Brown University Library.
Names
- Simpson, William, 1823-1899 Artist.
Created / Published
- [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 1869.
Headings
- - Ethiopia
- - 1869
- - Kings and rulers
- - Portrait paintings
- - Portraits
- - Theodore II, Negus of Ethiopia, died 1868
- - Watercolors
Notes
- - Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
- - Original resource extent: 1 watercolor; 11.3 x 19 centimeters.
- - Original resource at: Brown University Library.
- - Content in English.
- - Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.
Medium
- 1 online resource.
Source Collection
- Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection
Digital Id
Library of Congress Control Number
- 2021670467
Online Format
- compressed data
- image