The Thin Red Line
Robert Gibb · 1881
Robert Gibb
United Kingdom · 1845–1932
Robert Gibb RSA was a Scottish painter. He was Keeper of the National Gallery of Scotland from 1895 to 1907 and was Painter and Limner to the King from 1908 until his death. He built his reputation on romantic, historical and particularly military paintings but was also a significant portrait artist.
Known works
The Thin Red Line
Robert Gibb · 1881
Scottish National Gallery
The Thin Red Line is an 1881 oil-on-canvas painting by Robert Gibb depicting the 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854, during the Crimean War. In an incident which became known as "The Thin Red Line", a two-deep line of around 500 red-coated Scottish infantry from the Highland Brigade, with support from around 1,000 Royal Marines and Turkish infantry along with six guns of field artillery, stood firm against a force of around 2,500 Russian cavalrymen. The incident was a small one, in the context of the battle and the war as a whole, but became the focus for celebrating the stoicism and steadfastness of the British Army after Gibb's painting was exhibited.
Sources
Invite Robert Gibb into your living room
