Prints, Drawings and Watercolors from the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection

This vast digital collection of military artwork from the 16th through 20th centuries, vividly documents all aspects of military and naval history, with emphasis on the history and illustration of world military and naval uniforms from the 17th century to the present. In addition to the material on military and naval dress, the collection contains thousands of battle and campaign scenes, portraits, caricatures, wartime posters, original photographs, material pertaining to military decorations and insignia, heraldic ornaments, armor, weaponry, equitation, flags, knightly orders, court and ceremonial dress, architecture, and the general history of costume.
This collection is part of Brown University Library, hosted by Brown University.

Items in this collection

The Muchee Bawn or the Old Citadel of Lucknow, which was abandoned by Sir Henry Lawrence and partly blown up when he ...

Shortly after it was evacuated, there was a tremedous explosion which blew open all the doors of the Residency. Thick smoke billowed out from the building revealing a heap of ruins. Shortly after it was evacuated, there was a tremedous explosion which blew open all the doors of the Residency. Thick smoke billowed out from the building revealing a heap of ruins. Mounted in album 26 x 37 cm. London, Marlborough Rare Books, 1956

The Most Noble the Marquess Cornwallis

Stipple-engraving, unsigned; oval bust portrait in uniform, hatless. Stipple-engraving, unsigned; oval bust portrait in uniform, hatless. Small upright, mounted on white paper; margins trimmed; yellowed. N.Y., Argosy, 1955.

The Most Noble Marquis Cornwallis, Lieutenant General and Governor of Ireland

Color mezzotint; equestrian portrait in uniform, pointing with sword, horse rearing towards left, landscape background with tents. Color mezzotint; equestrian portrait in uniform, pointing with sword, horse rearing towards left, landscape background with tents. Upright folio, matted; plate mark, margins trimmed close; edges and corners worn. Boston, Goodspeed, 1948.

The Most Noble Marquis Cornwallis landing at Ostend. in June, 1794

Color mezzotint; Cornwallis, full-length in uniform, about to step from small boat manned and attended by 2 sailors, warships and harbor fort in background. Color mezzotint; Cornwallis, full-length in uniform, about to step from small boat manned and attended by 2 sailors, warships and harbor fort in background. Upright folio, matted; plate mark, margins trimmed. Chicago, W. Russell Button, 1964.

The Most Noble Lord Horatio Nelson, Viscount and Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe in the County of Norf...

Color mezzotint by Earlom after Beechey, published Jany. 9, 1806; 3/4-length portrait in uniform, hatless. Color mezzotint by Earlom after Beechey, published Jany. 9, 1806; 3/4-length portrait in uniform, hatless. Upright folio, matted; plate mark, bottom margin trimmed; slight foxing. London, W. M. Sabin, 1950.

The most Noble John Manners Marquis of Granby, Commander in Chief of the British forces in Germany, Lieutenant Genera...

Mezzotint by Houston, 1760, after Reynolds; 3/4-length portrait in uniform, facing left, hand resting on sword, battle in background. Mezzotint by Houston, 1760, after Reynolds; 3/4-length portrait in uniform, facing left, hand resting on sword, battle in background. Upright folio, matted; plate mark, margins trimmed close; edges worn and soiled.

The Most Noble Henry William Paget, Marquis of Anglesey, G.C.B.: From an original Picture by Sir William Beechy, R.A....

One of a collection of 7 colored and uncolored bust and half-length portraits in uniform. Engraved by H. Meyer after J. Jackson, from original by Sir William Beechey, published March 21, 1817. One of a collection of 7 colored and uncolored bust and half-length portraits in uniform. Engraved by H. Meyer after J. Jackson, from original by Sir William Beechey, published March 21, 1817. Upright folio; some margins trimmed; some soiled. New York, Henry L. Bokelman, 1948.

The Most Noble Henry Somerset, 8th Duke of Beaufort, Col. of the Gloucestershire Hussars

Color lithograph (by Harris after de Daubrawa); equestrian portrait in uniform, riding towards left, background of military review. Color lithograph (by Harris after de Daubrawa); equestrian portrait in uniform, riding towards left, background of military review. Upright folio, matted; margins entirely trimmed away; clean. Title supplied by cataloger. London, Parker Gallery, 1951.

The Most Noble Arthur Marquis of Wellington K.B. &c. &c.

Uncolored stipple engraving by Thomas Williamson after Home; full-length portrait in uniform, standing before tent, soldiers etc. in right background. Uncolored stipple engraving by Thomas Williamson after Home; full-length portrait in uniform, standing before tent, soldiers etc. in right background. Upright folio, matted; margins trimmed; edges worn and soiled. New York, Harry H. Hymes, 1946.

The Most Noble Arthur Marquis of Wellington K.B. &c. &c.

Color stipple-engraving by Thomas Williamson after Home; full-length portrait in uniform, standing before tent, soldiers etc. in right background. Color stipple-engraving by Thomas Williamson after Home; full-length portrait in uniform, standing before tent, soldiers etc. in right background. Upright folio, matted; margins trimmed; edges worn and soiled. New York, Harry H. Hymes, 1946.

The Most illustrious and noble Prince George, Duke of Albemarle

Copper engraving by R. Sheppard, 1735, after Loggan (1661); half-length portrait in armor with baton in hand, background of drapery with small figures in battles at right. Copper engraving by R. Sheppard, 1735, after Loggan (1661); half-length portrait in armor with baton in hand, background of drapery with small figures in battles at right. From Mechell's edition of Paul de Rapin-Thoyras The History of England. N.Y., Rockman Prints, 1955.

The mortar battery at Woolwich

Color lithograph by J. Hunt after Jones; artillerymen in mortar emplacements giving display to military and men, women and children spectators in foreground, landscape background. Color lithograph by J. Hunt after Jones; artillerymen in mortar emplacements giving display to military and men, women and children spectators in foreground, landscape background. Oblong folio; margins slightly trimmed. N.Y., Rockman Prints, 1949.

The Morning of the 18th Brumaire

One of a pair of mezzotint engravings by John Sartain after Schopin; Josephine in salon with Napoleon and officers. From 'The Eclectic Magazine of Foreign Literature, Science and Art,' edited by W.H. Bidwell, January, 1861. (See also: The Divorce of the Empress Josephine.) One of a pair of mezzotint engravings by John Sartain after Schopin; Josephine in salon with Napoleon and officers. From 'The Eclectic Magazine of Foreign Literature, Science and Art,' edited by W.H. Bidwell, January, 1861. (See also: The Divorce of the Empress Josephine.) Oblong; margins trimmed; foxed. Hanover, N.H., Book & Print Shop, 1955.

The morning before the battle. The last letter home

Steel engraving by C. Mottram after Barker, printed by Hobgate; officer seated outside tent writing letter and stroking dog, orderly preparing horses nearby, troops assembling in background. Steel engraving by C. Mottram after Barker, printed by Hobgate; officer seated outside tent writing letter and stroking dog, orderly preparing horses nearby, troops assembling in background. Large oblong folio; plate mark, margins; tear at bottom. N.Y., Rockman Prints, 1953.

The Minute-Men of 1776: Massachusetts Militia of To-day at review

Wood-engraved plate with 2 illustrations; minute-men assembling; militia drilling on parade-ground. From Ballou's Pictorial, Aug. 31, 1856, page 137 Wood-engraved plate with 2 illustrations; minute-men assembling; militia drilling on parade-ground. From Ballou's Pictorial, Aug. 31, 1856, page 137 Upright folio; margins intact; clean. Hanover, N.H., Book & Print Shop, 1956.

The Military Train, 1864

Original watercolor signed by Simkin; 3 mounted uniform figures with horse-drawn supply wagon, on country road. Original watercolor signed by Simkin; 3 mounted uniform figures with horse-drawn supply wagon, on country road. Oblong, matted; margins; soiled.

The Military Train, 1858

From a set of 8 watercolors showing uniforms of the Royal Waggon Train and Royal Army Service Corps.

The Military Train, 1856-1869

Color plate after Lawson; combat scene showing mounted and dismounted soldiers of military train battling through Indian mutineers. Color plate after Lawson; combat scene showing mounted and dismounted soldiers of military train battling through Indian mutineers. Oblong, matted; margins; clean.

The military school. The Church of the Invalides

Engraving; view showing 2 buildings in right and left backgrounds, small figures of soldier, veterans etc. in foreground. Oblong folio; margins. Engraving; view showing 2 buildings in right and left backgrounds, small figures of soldier, veterans etc. in foreground. Oblong folio; margins. Oblong folio; margins. New York, Rockman Prints, 1964.

The military school

The military school

Brown University

Steel-engraving by Edward Goodall after Nash, the figures after J. Stephanoff, printed by J. Hayward; view of Ecole Militaire, showing cadets parading in middle distance, spectators and promenaders in foreground. Steel-engraving by Edward Goodall after Nash, the figures after J. Stephanoff, printed by J. Hayward; view of Ecole Militaire, showing cadets parading in middle distance, spectators and promenaders in foreground. Small oblong folio; margins. London, J. Hall, 1964.

The military review--the Camp at Chobham. The troops returning to their encampment after a field-day.

Color lithograph by Edmund Walker, printed by Day & Son, after Haghe; tent encampments in foreground and distance, men, women, children and some soldiers in center foreground watching return of mounted and foot troops to encampments. Color lithograph by Edmund Walker, printed by Day & Son, after Haghe; tent encampments in foreground and distance, men, women, children and some soldiers in center foreground watching return of mounted and foot troops to encampments. Narrow large oblong folio, matted; margins; clean. London, Parker Gallery, 1951.

The military nurse, or Modern officer

Engraved caricature by and after Attwold; sergeant with halberd holding tiny young ensign on leading-strings holding flag, soldiers behind, numbered 44; lettered with title and eight lines of verse in two columns below. Satire on the promotion of inexperienced officers. Engraved caricature by and after Attwold; sergeant with halberd holding tiny young ensign on leading-strings holding flag, soldiers behind, numbered 44; lettered with title and eight lines of verse in two columns below. Satire on the promotion of inexperienced officers. Upright; matted margins intact, soiled. N.Y., Rockman Prints, 1949.

The military mania!, or A new domestic exercise!

2nd in pair of hand-colored etched caricatures after Woodward, published July 24, 1798; 2 rows of comic domestic scenes featuring military figures, their wives and families. [See also: Military accidents!!]. 2nd in pair of hand-colored etched caricatures after Woodward, published July 24, 1798; 2 rows of comic domestic scenes featuring military figures, their wives and families. [See also: Military accidents!!]. Oblong folio, mounted on white paper; margins trimmed; clean. Munich, auction 1955.

The military macaroni

The military macaroni

Brown University

One of 19 colored (with three uncolored) engraved caricatures, published Feby. 9th, 1773; 'No.4: Whole length caricature portrait of a thin man with a large head walking or running in profile to the right. His wig is a high toupet with a queue in a black bag. In his left hand he holds out a small three-cornered hat, in his right is a sword whose point rests on the ground. He wears a short coat with facings and epaulettes, and a ruffled shirt'. -- British Museum. One of 19 colored (with three uncolored) engraved caricatures, published Feby. 9th, 1773; 'No.4: Whole length caricature portrait of a thin man with a large head walking or running in profile to the right. His wig is a high toupet with a queue in a black bag. In his left hand he holds out a small three-cornered hat, in his right is a sword whose point rests on the ground. He wears a short coat with facings and epaulettes, and a ruffled shirt'. -- British Museum. Unbound; in red cloth portfolio, red leather backstrip label stamped gold; most clean, some worn.

The military contrast

The military contrast

Brown University

One of 19 colored (with three uncolored) engraved caricatures, published May 1, 1773; 'Two soldiers; on the left, a middle-aged man who has lost an eye, an arm and a leg; on the right, a young man peering at the other through an eye-glass'. -- British Museum. One of 19 colored (with three uncolored) engraved caricatures, published May 1, 1773; 'Two soldiers; on the left, a middle-aged man who has lost an eye, an arm and a leg; on the right, a young man peering at the other through an eye-glass'. -- British Museum. Unbound; in red cloth portfolio, red leather backstrip label stamped gold; most clean, some worn.

The Military camp, Aldershot

Original unsigned watercolor, by Campion; panoramic view of large tent encampment in landscape background, small soldier figures in foreground, troops parading in middle distance. Original unsigned watercolor, by Campion; panoramic view of large tent encampment in landscape background, small soldier figures in foreground, troops parading in middle distance. Oblong folio, matted; no margins; clean. London, Parker Gallery, 1954. title provided by cataloger