01 Paintings, The amorous game, Part 46 - With Footnotes

Francis William Topham (British, 1808-1877)

A Zouave relating his adventures, c. 1857

Watercolour and bodycolour

66 x 58.4cm (26 x 23in)

Private collection

The Zouaves were a class of light infantry regiments of the French Army serving between 1830 and 1962 and linked to French North Africa, as well as some units of other countries modelled upon them. The zouaves, along with the indigenous Tirailleurs Algeriens, were among the most decorated units of the French Army. More on the Zouave 

Francis William Topham (Leeds 15 April 1808 – 31 March 1877 Córdoba) was an English watercolourist and engraver.

His early in his life he was articled to an uncle who was a writing engraver. Around 1830 he came to London, and at first found employment in engraving coats-of-arms. He then entered the service of Messrs. Fenner & Sears, engravers and publishers. Moving employment to James Sprent Virtue, he engraved landscapes after William Henry Bartlett and Thomas Allom.

His career as watercolourist appears to have started self-taught, helped by practice at the meetings of the Artists' Society in Clipstone Street. In 1850 he was one of Charles Dickens's company of actors. Towards the end of 1852 he went for a few months to Spain in search of the picturesque.

In the winter of 1876 Topham again went to Spain, dying in Córdoba in 1877, and was buried in the Protestant cemetery there. More on Francis William Topham

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