This painting is called “The 28th Regiment at Quatre Bras,” painted in 1875 by Elizabeth Thompson. It hangs in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.

It’s a war scene, but to me, it’s muted. The primary color comes from the soldiers’ uniforms, and it’s a dullish, blood red as if the blood had been spilled an hour before and has already oxidized. The sky is colored by a sunset horizon — we can see the colors peeking through — but the sunset is covered in greys from the clouds. Squint, and it looks exactly like the ground.

I love the way Thompson draws our eye up and back down through the implied pyramid at the center, rooted on the protective stance of the lower soldiers merge into the sphere that surrounds the English regiment in position.

The English opponents have either fallen or are falling or… non-existant? There are only about four enemies despite myriad British soldiers. The troops’ faces are all stoic.

Except for this guy. Thompson put him dead center, one of very few soldiers in this painting she even chose to give an expression. And he’s the one in the strongest position of the pyramid:

Hidden within the lifeless faces and quintessence of war is this guy. He is having a blast.

Lady Butler said, “I never painted for the glory of war, but to portray its pathos and heroism.” But occasionally, heroes love blood.