Lady (Elizabeth Southerden Thompson) Butler Paintings

Lady Elizabeth Southerden Thompson Butler was a prominent British painter, especially famous for her works depicting scenes of battles and military life. Born on November 3, 1846, in Lausanne, Switzerland, to Thomas James Thompson and his second wife Christiana Weller, her upbringing was cosmopolitan, having spent her early years in Italy. She was educated at home and displayed an early talent for art.

Inspired by the Italian frescoes and Renaissance masters, Elizabeth initially focused on religious subjects. However, her interests shifted towards military themes after witnessing troops in France. Her breakthrough came with the painting 'The Roll Call' (1874), which was exhibited at the Royal Academy and purchased by Queen Victoria herself. This success marked her as one of the foremost artists of her time in the genre of battle paintings.

Her subsequent works, such as 'Scotland Forever!' (1881), depicting a charge of the Royal Scots Greys at the Battle of Waterloo, and 'The Remnants of an Army' (1879), showing the retreat from Afghanistan in 1842, solidified her reputation. Her paintings were celebrated for their attention to detail, emotional impact, and the accurate portrayal of military uniforms and equipment.

Elizabeth married Sir William Butler, an officer of the British Army, in 1877, and henceforth was often known as Lady Butler. Her marriage did not diminish her artistic output; she continued to paint and exhibit her work. She and her husband traveled extensively, including stays in Egypt, Palestine, and South Africa, which influenced her artistic subjects.

Lady Butler's popularity waned towards the end of the 19th century, as the taste in art shifted and the appetite for battle scenes decreased. Nonetheless, she continued to paint, focusing more on religious themes and landscapes in her later years.

She was a groundbreaker for women in the arts, achieving recognition in a male-dominated field and paving the way for future generations of female artists. Lady Butler passed away on October 2, 1933, in Gormanston Castle, County Meath, Ireland, having left behind a legacy of powerful and historically significant works. Her paintings are held in various collections, including the National Portrait Gallery in London and the National Gallery of Ireland.