Manuella Sancho, Heroine at Saragossa
1811
Medium/TechniqueMezzotint
DimensionsSheet: 52.8 × 42.5 cm (20 13/16 × 16 3/4 in.)
Credit LineGift of Nicholas Stogdon in memory of Eleanor Sayre
Accession number2018.57
InscriptionsLettered in the border with the title in open letters, with two plaques either side describing her actions in English and Spanish, and 'Painted by Lascelles Hoppner. // Engraved by H. Meyer. // London: Published as the Act Directs, April 4th. 1811, by the Engraver, 62, G.t Russell Street, Bloomsbury. / & at R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, No. 101, Strand.'
Description: 'This Extraordinary Person whose Intrepidity / has surpassed all that History has preserved to us of / female heroism is a native of Arragon and was born in the / Town of Plenas; her name is Manuella Sancho and she is in / the twenty fourth year of her age. During the defence of Sara/gossa she fought in the trenches, and worked at the batteries / herself discharging the Cannon & Mortars, & witnessing the / death of many by her side, without betraying the least agi/tation; General Palafox, the governor of the City, conferred on / her the badge of honor, with the rank of ensign, & a pension / as a testimony of the high sense the spanish Nation / entertained of her heroism.'Provenance19th century, Dod family, Edge Hall, Chesire; October 12, 2017, Trustees of Mr. A.K. Wolley Dod Residuary Trust, Forum Auctions, London, lot 200, sold to Grosvenor Prints, London, for £400; November, 2017, sold by Grosvenor Prints to Nicholas Stogdon, London; 2018, gift of Nicholas Stogdon to the MFA. (Accession Date: February 21, 2018)
