A detailed historical key identifying the veterans and figures depicted in Sir David Wilkie's painting of the Chelsea Pensioners receiving news of the Battle of Waterloo.

This print functions as a detailed explanatory key for the larger composition, The Chelsea Pensioners Reading the Gazette of the Battle of Waterloo. Originally painted by Sir David Wilkie in 1822, the work captures the public reaction to the news of the British victory at Waterloo. William Greatbach, a skilled engraver, produced this guide to assist viewers in identifying the various figures depicted in the scene.

The document provides a numbered list corresponding to specific characters within the main painting. These include veterans from diverse military backgrounds, such as the 7th Lancers, the 42nd Regiment, and the Hanoverian Legion. Each entry offers a brief biographical sketch of the individual, noting their past service in conflicts ranging from the Seven Years' War to the Siege of Gibraltar. The text describes the social atmosphere of the scene, noting the presence of Chelsea Hospital, the Duke of York public house, and the general sense of communal celebration among the pensioners and their families.

Visually, the print features small, outlined sketches of the heads of the primary figures, each numbered to match the descriptive text below. The style is functional and precise, typical of nineteenth-century instructional prints designed for a public audience. It serves as a historical record of how contemporary viewers engaged with complex narrative paintings. By detailing the specific identities and histories of the soldiers, the key transforms the painting from a general scene of jubilation into a specific document of military history. The typography is clear and formal, reflecting the standard presentation of such educational materials during the period. This print is an essential companion for those interested in the social history of the Napoleonic Wars and the reception of military art in early nineteenth-century Britain.