Detail of the Model of the Battle of Waterloo, 1842-1843, Britain, by William Siborne. The 2nd Life Guards attacking the French cuirassiers of Traver's Brigade near the farm of La Haie Sainte.

The field of this model is in ten sections, and is made to a scale of 15 feet to 1 inch. The figures however, are to a scale of 6 feet to 1 inch in order that they might remain identifiable, and the farm buildings are of the same scale to avoid incongruity.

The model shows the area around the Brussels-Wavre crossroads including the farm of La Haye Sainte where, during the second phase of the battle, 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m., Pictons Division engaged the Divisions of Donzelot, Alix and Marcognet.

At this time the farm is still held by the Kings German Legion, who were later driven out, reputedly after being supplied with the wrong ammunition. The Duke of Wellington and his staff are shown to the North- West of La Haye Sainte.

The landscape is carefully recreated with woven materials representing the various crops and ground conditions. The farm buildings and nearby orchard are well modelled, as is the thin lead sheet worked to imitate a pave surface on the Brussels-Charleroi road.

The lead figures are approximately 1 inch high and their quality of detail is superb, but this quality is rather lost since they are mostly too far away from the glass to enable the visitor to appreciate anything more than the broad aspect they create. There are an 6540 figures on the model, 5537 infantry and 1003 cavalry, plus 15 cannon and carriages.

Siborne Waterloo Model

Detail of the Model of the Battle of Waterloo, 1842-1843, Britain, by William Siborne. The 2nd Life Guards attacking the French cuirassiers of Traver's Brigade near the farm of La Haie Sainte. The field of this model is in ten sections, and is made to a scale of 15 feet to 1 inch. The figures however, are to a scale of 6 feet to 1 inch in order that they might remain identifiable, and the farm buildings are of the same scale to avoid incongruity. The model shows the area around the Brussels-Wavre crossroads including the farm of La Haye Sainte where, during the second phase of the battle, 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m., Pictons Division engaged the Divisions of Donzelot, Alix and Marcognet. At this time the farm is still held by the Kings German Legion, who were later driven out, reputedly after being supplied with the wrong ammunition. The Duke of Wellington and his staff are shown to the North- West of La Haye Sainte. The landscape is carefully recreated with woven materials representing the various crops and ground conditions. The farm buildings and nearby orchard are well modelled, as is the thin lead sheet worked to imitate a pave surface on the Brussels-Charleroi road. The lead figures are approximately 1 inch high and their quality of detail is superb, but this quality is rather lost since they are mostly too far away from the glass to enable the visitor to appreciate anything more than the broad aspect they create. There are an 6540 figures on the model, 5537 infantry and 1003 cavalry, plus 15 cannon and carriages.

Asset Number DI 2015-2263 Keywords: