Sir Charles Bell an English surgeon-artist in the service of the French wounded at Waterloo

Sir Charles Bell occupies a unique place in the history of medicine and surgery, both for his fundamental contribution to anatomical and physiological knowledge, his artistic talent, and his commitment to the war wounded. This renowned English surgeon particularly distinguished himself during the Battle of Waterloo, where he provided aid to defeated French soldiers, demonstrating remarkable openness and humanity, transcending the partisan divisions of the time.
His involvement was not limited to medical practice alone. Thanks to his exceptional skills as a draftsman, Charles Bell documented with great precision the injuries, suffering, and realities of the battlefield. The paintings and sketches produced in Brussels hospitals after June 18, 1815, demonstrate a profound empathy and a rare ability to capture the expressiveness of the wounded's suffering. This is a valuable contribution to the understanding of war trauma and the evolution of medical and surgical techniques.
Bell's particular attention to French soldiers, and in particular those of the Napoleonic Old Guard, deserves to be highlighted. These combatants, often evacuated last, suffered extremely serious and complex injuries. Charles Bell's unwavering commitment to these men, faced with terrible pain and waiting for help, highlighted his ability to cope with extremely difficult medical situations and his commitment to a time-honored medical ethic. He thus made a significant contribution, along with a few other English and French surgeons of his time, to laying the foundations for a military surgery that was both technical and compassionate, universal, and focused exclusively on alleviating the atrocious suffering of every man who fell victim to the destructive passion of armed conflict