A design for a compartment of the border of the Wellington shield made in silver, by Thomas Stothard (1755- 1834), circa 1814.

A drawing of a compartment of the border of the Wellington shield made in silver, by Thomas Stothard (1755- 1834), circa 1814.
Showing British troops on the left driving back French troops.
Plan, full size 147 x 282, curved

The battle of Salamanca took place in Spain on 22nd July 1812. This scene is from a set of compartment designs for the shield (1203- 1211), which represent a stage in the design of the whole group of ten scenes. Another set of drawings for the compartments, formerly in the Lodewijk Houthakker Collection, represent later versions of the scenes. A drawing of this same scene but with significant changes of detail, once formed part of the Houthakker set (1012-1920). The silver gilt Wellington Shield, now in the Wellington Museum, was presented in 1821 to the Duke of Wellington by the Merchants and Bankers of the City of London. It was made by Benjamin Smith for Green, Ward and Green. Stothard won a competition for its design in 1814. The shield as made has ten outer compartments. A preliminary design for the shield (E.1221-1921) has twelve outer compartments and was probably the initial design presented in 1814. 1202 to 1212 were bought at the sale of "Mr Wells" at Graves and Co., 22nd June 1857 for 27 pounds and 11 shillings.

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