French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802)
Maps and prints of naval engagements collected by George III during the decade of war
Cape St Vincent, 1797
To the EARL of S.T VINCENT the OFFICERS & CREW, under his Lordship's Command this View of the Gallant Action that was fought off Cape St Vincent on the 14 of Feb.y 1797 by a British Squadron of Fifteen Sail of the Line &...
published 17 Jul 1797Aquatint; etching; engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto | 46.0 x 68.0 cm (image) | RCIN 735050
In the aftermath of the battle, Jervis was made Baron Jervis of Meaford and Earl St Vincent, and Nelson was knighted as a member of the Order of the Bath.
Additional text: [bottom, below edge of view, the names of the ships depicted in the view.] [Bottom left, left of title, a tabulation of the number of ships and guns of the English Force, and bottom right, right of title, the same for the Spanish Force.]
Condition: no fold lines; paper backing brought round edges of recto.
John Harris (active 1771-1812) (publisher) [bottom centre, below title:] London Published July 17 1797 by John Harris N.o 3 Sweetings Alley Royal Exchange & N.o 8 Old Broad Street.
After Robert Clevely (1747-1809) (artist) [bottom left, below edge of view:] R. Cleveley Delin. Marine Painter to their / Royal Highness thePrince of Wales & Duke of Clarence.
John William Edy (1760 or 1762-1820) (engraver) [bottom right, below edge of view:] J.W. Edy Fecit.
John Jervis, Viscount St Vincent (1735-1823) (dedicatee)
Watermark: None visible
Condition: no fold lines; paper backing brought round edges of recto
44.1 x 68.0 cm (neatline)
46.0 x 68.0 cm (image)
47.6 x 70.5 cm (platemark)
48.7 x 71.3 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
To the EARL of S.T VINCENT the OFFICERS & CREW, under his Lordship's Command this View of the Gallant Action that was fought off Cape St Vincent on the 14 of Feb.y 1797 by a British Squadron of Fifteen Sail of the Line & Frigates / with the Grand Fleet of Spain commanded by Don Joseph de Cordova, consisting of Twenty Seven Sail of the Line & Frigates, who after an Action of Four Hours, were totally defeated. Four Ships of their Line taken & the remainder driven into / Cadiz by which an Invasion of this Country was Prevented, is respectfully dedicated by his Lordships Obliged Humble Servant John Harris. [bottom, below view]
Additional text:
[bottom, below edge of view, the names of the ships depicted in the view.] [Bottom left, left of title, a tabulation of the number of ships and guns of the English Force, and bottom right, right of title, the same for the Spanish Force.]
Annotations:
George III heading [black pencil:] Military Naval Engagement 14 Feb 1797 Port folio No 5.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil, obscured by paper backing: the old heading; bottom left, black pencil:] 122.a; [top left, black pencil:] 15; [top right, black pencil:] 15; [centre, black pencil, obscured by paper backing:] 15.
George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement View of the Action that was fought off Cape S.t Vincent on the 14.th of Feb.y 1797, by a British Squadron of 15 sail of the Line and Frigates commanded by the Earl of S.t Vincent; with the Grand Fleet of Spain commanded by Don Joseph de Cordova, consisting of 27 sail of the Line and Frigates: by R. Clevely, engraved by Edy, published by Harris, 1797.
Subject(s)
Cabo de São Vicente, Portugal (37°01'21"N 08°59'25"W)
Bibliographic reference(s)
H. Parker, Naval battles from the collection of prints formed and owned by Commander Sir Charles Leopold Cust. With an introduction by C.N. Robinson, London 1911, no.122.a. The entry in Parker contains a misprint: the date of publication is given as 17 January 1797, about a month before the action actually took place. It should read '17 July'.
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
