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Edmund Leighton focused on the medieval era, but he also dabbled in other eras. This one is set in the Napolenonic era, called the Regency era in Britain. That was another era that Leighton liked to paint. The British thought they had Napoleon defeated (1814). The Allies exciled him to Elba, a small island off of Italy. The locals to the surprise of many were happy to have him. But Elba was too small to contain Napoleon's vast ambitions. He esacped from exile (February 1815). French soldiers quickly flocked to his cause Which led to the finlly conclusive Battle of Waterloo in which the British and Prussians defeated him -- ending the Napoleonic Wars (June 1815). Other historical artists went for the gore or dramatic scenes of battle. Leighton went to the ordinary people in these periods, sometimes on the perifery of great events. The painting captures a moment in London as residents joyfully greet the returning soldiers return from the Continent after a long period of war. Leighton's pinting depicts a victory parade in London the following year--1816. The centerpiece is a British lancer catching the attention of a young lady waving her handkerchief. With her on the balcony are also older people of various ages and two children. The girl wears a long Empire dress. The boy wears a skeketon suit.
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