Gunshot wound of the head
Object numberGC.13831
TitleGunshot wound of the head
CreatorCharles Bell (originator)
DescriptionGunshot wound of the head. Sketch in oil, glazed, in wooden frame.
One of Charles Bell's paintings of a casualty from the Battle of Corunna and the retreat between 24 December 1808-11 January 1809. Bell treated some of the force that landed back in Britain at Portsmouth. There are fifteen images in all.
Bell's notes: "Sketch of a soldier who received a musket ball in the forehead, which had run under the scalp. I cut it out and found it flattened."
This injury was the result of a strike by a spent ball, which entered above the left eye. It would have flattened against the skull, as it did not have the force to penetrate, before tracking under the occipto-frontalis muscle, a sheet of muscle which covers the forhead. After removing the bullet and stitching the wound, the wound is likely to have done well.
Production date c.post 1810-01-01
Object nameGunshot wound of the head
Object categoryAnatomical, artwork
MaterialCanvas
Dimensions
- Framed Height: 51.5 cm
Width: 42 cm
Canvas Height: 43.2 cm
Width: 33.8 cm