French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802)
Maps and prints of naval engagements collected by George III during the decade of war
Medway, 1797
To the RIGHT HON. the Lords Commissioners of the ADMIRALTY, / this representation of the DUTCH PRIZES (taken on the spot) with the FLAG SHIPS of the Admirals Visc,,t Duncan & S,,r Rich,,d Onslow, Bart. / as stationed in the River...
published 1797Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto | 45.4 x 58.4 cm (image) | RCIN 735063
This view shows the Dutch ship Vrijheid which, along with six other ships, were captured and brought back to the Medway following the Battle of Camperdown, which was fought on 11 October 1797 between a British Navy fleet under the command of Admiral Adam Duncan, and a Dutch Navy fleet commanded by Vice-Admiral Jan de Winter. It was a major naval engagement resulting in what was considered to be the greatest ever victory for a British fleet against an equal opponent up to that date. Admiral Duncan was created 1st Viscount Duncan of Camperdown on 30 October 1797. The captured Dutch ships were brought back to the Medway, shown here just off Chatham.
Additional text: [bottom, below edge of view, from left to right, the names of the ships are engraved below their representation in the view.]
Condition: no fold lines.
John Wells (active 1784-1809) (artist, engraver and publisher) [bottom right, below edge of view:] Drawn on the spot & Engrav’d by J. Wells.
W. Twiss (active 1797) (publisher) [bottom, left of centre, below title:] London, Publish’d Dec.r 19, 1797, by J. Wells, 6 Clerkenwell Green, & W. Twiss, Gilberts Passage, Clare Market.
Watermark: None visible
Condition: no fold lines
40.2 x 58.4 cm (neatline)
45.4 x 58.4 cm (image)
50.1 x 66.2 cm (platemark)
50.8 x 67.3 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
To the RIGHT HON. the Lords Commissioners of the ADMIRALTY, / this representation of the DUTCH PRIZES (taken on the spot) with the FLAG SHIPS of the Admirals Visc,,t Duncan & S,,r Rich,,d Onslow, Bart. / as stationed in the River Medway previous to the intended Royal Review. / Is most respectfully inscribed by their Lordships' obedt. hble. serv.t / J. Wells [bottom centre, below view]
Additional text:
[bottom, below edge of view, from left to right, the names of the ships are engraved below their representation in the view.]
Annotations:
George III heading [black pencil:] Military [no Naval Engagement] 30 Oct 1797 Port folio No.3.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil, obscured by paper backing: the old heading; bottom left, black pencil:] 126.h; [top left, black pencil:] 38; [top right, black pencil:] 41; [centre, black pencil, obscured by paper backing:] 38.
George III catalogue entry:
Medway Representation of the Dutch Prizes with the Flag Ships of the Admirals Visc.t Duncan and Sir Richard Onslow Bar.t, as stationed in the River Medway previous to the intended Royal Review on the 30.th of Oct.r 1797: by I. Wells, 1797.
Subject(s)
River Medway, England, UK
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.126.h
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
