Focus on 28th Regiment at Quatre Bras (painting) and explain the Preparation for painting.
Thompson went to great lengths to create models for her work.  In July 1874, she arranged for 300 soldiers from the Royal Engineers to pose in a reconstruction of the square formation, and to fire their rifles, to recreate the smoky scene.   Several of the soldiers also modelled in Thompson's studio. Thompson observed horses at Sanger's Circus and the Horse Guards riding school, as models for the French cavalry.  She also arranged for a group of children to trample down a field of rye in Henley-on-Thames, to recreate the setting.
square Sanger's Circus Royal Engineers Horse Guards rye Henley-on-Thames