Duke of Wellington Collection Honors Battle of Waterloo

Bicentennial

In observance of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 2015, Sotheby’s will auction off a number of historical items significant for their association with the duke of Wellington. The collection, which will be offered at auction on July 14, 2015, includes a mud-spattered campaign cloak worn by the duke during the Waterloo campaign and allegedly donned during its eponymous battle.

The duke of Wellington reportedly offered the cloak as a token of his affections to his former lover, Lady Caroline Lamb, soon after the battle. It eventually reached its first documented owner, Grosvenor Charles Bedford, in 1823. While the garment passed to Bedford’s descendants, it has never before appeared at an auction or public exhibition, and Sotheby’s estimates its value at 20,000 to 30,000 euros.

The collection also includes two portraits of the duke of Wellington. The first, a watercolor painted in 1816 by well-known French artist Jean-Baptiste Isabey, depicts the “Iron Duke” clad in a scarlet uniform featuring the Order of the Fleece, set against a stormy background of pale gold. The painting, which is appearing on the market for the first time, carries an estimated value ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 euros.

The second portrait, created by prominent painter William Grimaldi, dates back to 1817. Drawing inspiration from a marble bust created by Joseph Nollekens in 1809, the portrait features a characteristic trompe l’oeil effect. It is one of a total of 25 portraits completed by Grimaldi for the duke that ranged from similar enamel pieces to watercolors. Sotheby’s estimates the work at 6,000 to 8,000 euros.