The remnants of an army, Jellalabad, January 13, 1842 1879

Elizabeth Thompson's "The Remnants of an Army, Jellalabad, January 13, 1842" (1879) is a powerful oil painting depicting a lone British soldier, a survivor of the First Anglo-Afghan War, riding his horse away from the besieged city of Jellalabad. The soldier's weary posture and the desolate landscape evoke the hardships and losses endured during the conflict. The dramatic, almost theatrical composition and the use of light and shadow create a sense of pathos and melancholy, drawing viewers into the aftermath of a brutal war. This painting is a significant piece of Victorian art that captures the reality of war and its lasting impact on individuals.