Chobham, reminiscences of a Camp

Samuel Henry Gordon Alken (Ipswich 1810 – London 1894). Oil painting on board, Chobham, reminiscences of a Camp by Samuel Henry Gordon Alken (Ipswich 1810 – London 1894), circa 1853. The original painting for one of the six print series ‘Chobham Camp,1853, inscribed: inscribed ‘H. Alken delt. A sentry stands in the foreground, turned slightly to the right holding his drawn sword. He stands in front of a wood and wicker sentry-box centre. On the right are off-duty soldiers in their shirt-sleeves, wearing dark trousers with red stripes down the side, small dark pill-box hats with a red band, are cleaning their swords and other equipment. In the background on the right is a large canvas tent or marquee, on the left three conical tents with a soldier kneeling cleaning his equipment and other soldiers in the background. Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire (Accredited Museum)