Eyre Crowe (1824-1910)

Pen and ink sketch version of ‘Explosion of the Cashmere Gate’, by Eyre Crowe, published in Henry Blackburn’s Academy Notes, No. 7, May 1881, p. 14

Medium: oil

Size: 84 x 51 inches

Exhibited: Royal Academy, 1881; Manchester Royal Institution Exhibition 1882; St Jude’s, Whitechapel, 1886, Doré Galleries 1914

A pen and ink sketch of the painting, by Eyre Crowe, was published in Henry Blackburn’s Academy Notes, No. 7, May 1881, p. 14

Original caption: ‘The explosion party, consisting of Lieutenants Home and Salkeld of the Bengal Engineers, three sergeants of the same corps, Burgess, Carmichael, and Smith, etc., in the face of a very hot fire crossed in succession the precarious timbers of the battered bridge. … The Victoria Cross was conferred upon Lieuts. Home and Salkeld, also on Bugler Hawthorne and Sergeant Smith, etc.’

Athenaeum, 19 March 1881:

Mr. Eyre Crowe will probably contribute to the Royal Academy Exhibition … the attack on the gate of Delhi during the critical point of the Indian Mutiny, and at the moment when the explosion of a petard, laid before the walled-up gate by Lieut. Salkeld and others, is imminent. The leader of the assailants is on the shattered wooden bridge, and about to apply the match to the fuse, while some of his companions have jumped or fallen wounded into the ditch below.

Daily News, 30 April 1881:

There is plenty of incident and historical interest in Mr. Eyre Crowe’s large picture of Home, Salkeld, Burgess, Carmichael and Smith blowing up the Cashmere Gate at Delhi (66).

The Era, 7 May 1881

Tragical indeed was that fearful struggle before the gate of Delhi on the 14^th of September, 1857. Mr Eyre Crowe has made good use of the dramatic and exciting situation which was applauded throughout Europe for its display of British pluck and bravery. The explosion before its massive gates which enabled the troops to enter the city was certain death to many who fired the mine. Yet, in the face of the terrible danger not a man faltered, and never was the Victoria Cross won under more brilliant conditions than by Lieutenants Horne and Salkeld and Bugler Hawthorne and Sergeant Smith. Mr Eyre Crowe has caught the spirit of the tremendous scene, and has arranged a difficult subject with good effect and rich colour.

Athenaeum, 14 May 1881:

It is full of incidents well selected, excellently designed, and carefully painted, and there is much energy and abundance of character in the expressions and actions of the figures.

Art Journal, June 1881:

The story, as told at length in the catalogue, is depicted with great skill and directness. Sergeant Smith, kneeling on the battered bridge, is in the act of stooping to ignite the fuse; down in the ditch lie the bodies of Lieutenant Salkeld and Sergeants Burgess and Carmichael, who have been mortally wounded in the attempt; near them stand Lieutenant Home, who had jumped from the bridge after placing the first powder bags, and Bugler Hawthorne, who was to sound the call to advance.

Liverpool Mercury etc, 23 October 1882

Manchester Royal Institution Exhibition. The interest of some of the pictures is not increased by the fact that they have been exhibited before, and among these are “The Explosion of the Cashmere Gate,” but Eyre Crowe, A.R.A….