Details from Battle of Agincourt painting by Graham Turner

THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT - 25th October 1415

Below and on the following pages are large detail images taken from Graham Turner's new large oil painting of the Battle of Agincourt, along with some text describing what is shown.

Return to Introduction or view painting details PAGE 2 or PAGE 3

Prints reproduced from this painting are available, on paper or canvas - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Henry V's invading army had already taken the fortified town of Harfleur after a long siege, a siege that had seen many in his army succumb to diseases like dysentry, before they set out to march for Calais on 8th October 1415. Hounded all the way by the French army, their convoluted route was finally blocked near the village of Agincourt, and on the 25th October, Henry's tired and hungry army finally faced the cream of French nobility in open battle.

Initial French cavalry charges against the English flanks were repulsed by the arrows of the fabled English archers, protected behind a forest of sharpened stakes (see Graham Turner's other painting of the archers), before the main body of the French army advanced on foot through the mud and into the barrage of arrows to reach their antagonists.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS of Graham Turner's print of the archers at Agincourt.

Graham Turner's new painting focuses on the desperate melee that ensued, with Henry V (right) in the thick of the fighting, surrounded by his bodyguard and with his banners flying above him, as they desperately fight off the French men at arms who have struggled through the mud and barrage of arrows to reach them.

Henry's surcoat bears the royal arms of England, quartered with those of France, proclaiming his claim on the French throne - one of the major reasons that lay behind the campaign of 1415. His appearance is noted by two eyewitnesses, Jean le Fevre (with the English army) and Jean de Waurin (on the French side);

'...he had brought to him his helmet which was a very fine bascinet with a visor on which was a very rich crown of gold encircling it like an imperial crown.'

Sir Thomas Erpingham (below)

57 year old Sir Thomas Erpingham was one of Henry's most experienced and trusted commanders, whose role at the start of the battle is described by Monstrelet in his chronicle:

'He had his battle drawn up by a knight grey with age called Thomas Erpingham.... Thomas exhorted them all on behalf of the king of England to fight bravely against the French in order to guarantee their own survival. Then riding in an escort in front of the army after he had set up its formation, he threw high into the air a baton which he had held in his hand, shouting 'nescieque'. Then he dismounted to join the king and the others on foot.'

He is shown in full plate armour, topped with a traditional bascinet with mail aventail, perhaps not the most up-to-date design, but appropriate for a man of his age and experience.

Graham based his armour on English tomb effigies such as that of Sir William Wilcote, dating from c.1410, and the sculpture of Sir Thomas himself at Norwich Cathedral (right), where he was buried after his death in 1428.

(Below) Detail from Graham Turner's painting showing Sir Thomas Erpingham and Sir Robert Babthorp, Controller of the King's Household, (on the left) in the thick of the fighting.

Sir John Cornwall and Sir Gilbert Umfraville

Another of Henry's experienced commanders was Sir John Cornwall (or Cornwaille), who commanded the vanguard on the march from Harfleur, along with fellow Knight of the Garter Sir Gilbert Umfraville, and was notable as the taker of many prisoners. Although the Duke of York, the King's uncle, took command of the vanguard on the right wing of the English army for the battle, Graham has also shown Cornwall's banner (on the right), along with Umfraville's (left), alongside that of the duke.

Sir John Cornwall pencil print

Graham Turner has created a detailed pencil drawing of Sir John Cornwall (right), and prints of this are available - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE NEXT PAGE and see more details from Graham Turner's Battle of Agincourt.....

ORIGINAL PAINTING - Graham Turner's original oil painting is available to purchase - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Agincourt print

Graham Turner's painting of the Battle of Agincourt is available as a high quality print - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

A special canvas edition is also be available, in two alternative sizes, with each reproduction individually printed on very high quality canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars by the artist himself, ensuring a picture as close to the original as possible.

Agincourt Pencil Prints

Four prints are available, reproduced from Graham Turner's pencil drawings of armour from the time of Agincourt.

Size A3 - £15 each plus p&p - CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS