In 1713 Louis Laguerre was commissioned to decorate the walls of the main hall and the two flanking staircases of Marlborough House, the London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. The subject was to be the significant battles of the Spanish Wars of Succession (1701-14); led by the Duke of Marlborough, Britain and the Allies saw victories at Blenheim (1704), Ramillies (1706), Oudenard (1708) and, less decisively, Malplaquet (1709). The murals were to be 'the only signs of bravura or ornamentation in a house that was otherwise very plain and simple' (John Charlton, Marlborough House, 1978). Laguerre was paid £500 for them. The murals have had a chequered conservation history and parts have been almost entirely repainted.

The main central hall (Blenheim Saloon) is decorated with the events of the Battle of Blenheim, 1704 (RCINs 408442, 408443, 408445). The window wall is painted with panels showing military equipment (RCIN 408444).

In 1700, when the death of Charles II of Spain threatened to plunge Europe into war, William III put John Churchill, later 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), then a relatively inexperienced and untried military leader, at the helm of British expeditionary forces, as part of the 'Grand Alliance' formed against France. The Spanish Wars of Succession (1701-1714) followed, which saw the 'Grande Alliance' of England, Austria, the Dutch Republic, the Holy Roman Empire, Piedmont-Savoy, Prussia, Portugal and Hapsburg Spain pitched into war against France, and France's supporters from amongst the monarchist regions of Spain that had automatically accepted duc'Anjou as Philip V.

This wall is divided into three panels describing the action of the battle; on the left a group of grenadiers, wearing mitre hats, ford the Nebel stream; in the centre, the French army is cut down, while soldiers in blue flee the scene. On the right, Prince Eugène of Savoy (1663-1736), recognisable by the Order of the Golden Fleece, leads his troops across the river Nebel. The scenes provide a thematic contrast to the opposite wall (RCIN 408442), which shows Marlborough surveying the battlefield from an aerial viewpoint. They compress the action together; figures are crammed together providing a sense of the chaos of battle. Prince Eugene, Marlborough's equivalent in this attack, is not placed at the centre of the composition, directing activity, but appears towards the edge, leading his troops onwards; like Marlborough, he faces and moves towards the central surrender of Marshall Tallard on the next wall (RCIN 408445).

A small oil copy, 77.5 x 142 cm at Plas Newydd; coloured engraving by Van der Gucht, pub. Carington Bowles, London, c. 1765 (National Army Museum, NAM. 1971-02-33-69-1). The Royal Collection holds a print of the subject (RCIN 750314).