The Meeting of Wellington and Blucher at La Belle Alliance

The Meeting of Wellington and Blucher at La Belle Alliance after the Battle of Waterloo, 18 June 1815.Oil on canvas by H Baynes 1820 (c), inscribed lower left.The two men shake hands, while wounded soldiers are being carried away on litters behind them.Associated with Napoleonic Wars, Waterloo (1815).The Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815 was the last great battle of the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) and marked the end of France's attempt to dominate Europe. The Allied commander, the Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), called the battle the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life'. The outcome of the battle was in doubt until late afternoon when Blucher's Prussians arrived in force and broke through Napoleon's right flank. This painting depicts the meeting of the two commanders in the aftermath of battle at the La Belle Alliance tavern. They shake hands while wounded soldiers are being carried away on litters behind them. Napoleon had used the tavern as his headquarters during the battle and Blucher suggested that the battle be named after it to commemorate the multinational coalition that had defeated the French emperor. Wellington instead recommended Waterloo, the village just north of the battlefield, commenting that it would not do to name the battle after the loser's command post. Oil on canvas

1769 1815 1852 Aftermath Alliance Baynes Blucher Bluchers Broke Coalition Commanders Commemorate Commenting Defeated Depicts Dominate Doubt Flank Instead Litters Losers Multinational Napoleons Nearest Outcome Prussians Recommended Shake Suggested Tavern Waterloo Wellesley Wellington

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