‘Charles I at Edgehill’ by Ernest Crofts RA (1847–1911).

The painting – which depicts King Charles I in command of the Royalist army at the first battle of the English Civil War in 1642 – is signed by the artist and dated 1892 in which year it was exhibited at the Royal Academy. It was hung with the following quote from the poet Thomas Macaulay: “The King is come to marshal us, all in his armour drest.”

The Battle of Edgehill saw forces loyal to Parliament -commanded by the Earl of Essex, Robert Devereux – delay Charles’ march on London, so preventing his chance of nipping the Great Rebellion in the bud.

All our paintings are sold in the finest condition they can be for their age having been professionally cleaned, conserved and re-varnished. Clients should also note that tracked and signed for international shipping is complimentary.

Ernest Crofts was one of the leading military painters of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. He favoured historical subjects of the Napoleonic era and the English Civil War. Crofts had an outstanding knowledge of military costumes and built a large collection of original uniforms and militaria (many of which were exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition held at Chelsea Hospital in 1890) enabling him to depict these in minute and authentic detail. Crofts was also known to have sketched on various battlefields, most notably the battle of Gravelotte in 1870, the largest battle of the Franco-Prussian War.

Between 1867 and his death in 1911, Ernest Crofts exhibited 47 paintings at the Royal Academy in London, as well as at the Royal Society of British Artists. Crofts was made an Associate of the RA in 1878, a full Royal Academician in 1896 and Keeper and Trustee of the R.A. two years later.

Dimensions: (framed) 55cm x 46cm (21¾” x 18”)

Dimensions: (canvas only) 41cm x 32cm (16” x 12½”)

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Provenance: 1892; exhibited at the Royal Academy. Thence in private UK collection.

Presentation: Newly commissioned bespoke gold metal leaf frame. All of the new frames we commission are especially made for us to order by one of the UK’s top period frame makers.

Condition: Very good. Newly professionally cleaned and re-varnished. Ready to hang.