![[The British Chief Caractacus, a Prisoner Before the Roman General Ostorius, 50 AD.]](jpegs/11557.jpg)
[The British Chief Caractacus, a Prisoner Before the Roman General Ostorius, 50 AD.]
W. Walcot [signed in pencil.]
[n.d., 1934.]
Etching with aquatint in brown ink, 195 x 235mm, 7¾ x 9¼". A good impression, with full margins.
Caratacus is named by Dio Cassius as a son of the Catuvellaunian king Cunobelinus. Caratacus and his brother Togodumnus led the initial defence of Britain against Aulus Plautius's four legions, primarily using guerrilla tactics. They lost much the south-east after being defeated in two crucial battles on the rivers Medway and Thames. Togodumnus was killed and the Catuvellauni's territories were conquered. Caratacus survived and carried on the resistance further west. We next hear of him in Tacitus's Annals, leading the Silures and Ordovices of modern Wales against Plautius's successor as governor, Publius Ostorius Scapula. Finally, in 51, Scapula managed to defeat Caratacus in a set-piece battle, capturing Caratacus's wife and daughter and receiving the surrender of his brothers. Caratacus himself escaped, and fled north to the lands of the Brigantes (modern Yorkshire) where the Brigantian queen, Cartimandua handed him over to the Romans in chains. Plate II to a set of 6 etchings, 'The Pageant of Ludlow', three by Frank Brangwyn and three by Walcott, to celebrate the tercentenary of the production of Milton's Comus at Ludlow Castle. William Walcott R.E (1874 - 1943) was described by Furst as 'next to Brangwyn the greatest decorative etcher this country has produced'.
[Ref: 11557] £260.00
[n.d., 1934.]
Etching with aquatint in brown ink, 195 x 235mm, 7¾ x 9¼". A good impression, with full margins.
Caratacus is named by Dio Cassius as a son of the Catuvellaunian king Cunobelinus. Caratacus and his brother Togodumnus led the initial defence of Britain against Aulus Plautius's four legions, primarily using guerrilla tactics. They lost much the south-east after being defeated in two crucial battles on the rivers Medway and Thames. Togodumnus was killed and the Catuvellauni's territories were conquered. Caratacus survived and carried on the resistance further west. We next hear of him in Tacitus's Annals, leading the Silures and Ordovices of modern Wales against Plautius's successor as governor, Publius Ostorius Scapula. Finally, in 51, Scapula managed to defeat Caratacus in a set-piece battle, capturing Caratacus's wife and daughter and receiving the surrender of his brothers. Caratacus himself escaped, and fled north to the lands of the Brigantes (modern Yorkshire) where the Brigantian queen, Cartimandua handed him over to the Romans in chains. Plate II to a set of 6 etchings, 'The Pageant of Ludlow', three by Frank Brangwyn and three by Walcott, to celebrate the tercentenary of the production of Milton's Comus at Ludlow Castle. William Walcott R.E (1874 - 1943) was described by Furst as 'next to Brangwyn the greatest decorative etcher this country has produced'.
[Ref: 11557] £260.00