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French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802)

Maps and prints of naval engagements collected by George III during the decade of war

ROBERT DODD (1748-1815)

Start Point, 1793

This View of the French National Frigate LA CLEOPATRE, Commanded by Mons.r Mullon, as brought into Action by his Majesty’s Frigate LA NYMPHE, / Commanded by Capt.n Pellew on the Morning of the 17th of June 1793, Is humbly...

published 1793

Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto | 42.1 x 64.2 cm (image) | RCIN 735014

A view of the action on 18 June 1793 off Start Point in which the British frigate Nymphe, Captain Edward Pellew (1793-8), took the French frigate Cléopâtre. French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802): War of the First Coalition (1792-8).

This print shows the Nymphe on the left and the French frigate on the right with the republican colours just visible at the stern. It depicts the scene just before action was joined. Pellew was acclaimed following his success which was the first British naval victory of the war against France. He took the Cléopâtre back as a prize to Portsmouth where he arrived on 21 June. He was presented to George III on the 22nd, and was knighted on the 29th. The Cléopâtre entered the British navy as the Oiseau.

Additional text: [bottom left, left of title, a summary of the numbers of guns and men on the La Nymphe:] English Force [bottom right, right of title, a summary of the numbers of guns and men on the La Cleopatre:] French Force.

For further reading, see:
C.D. Hall, 'Pellew, Edward, first Viscount Exmouth (1757–1833)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edn 2009.

Condition: no fold lines.
  • Robert Dodd (1748-1815) (artist) [bottom centre, below edge of view:] R. Dodd fecit; [bottom left, below title:] Painted by R. Dodd, from the real Ships a few days after the Action, and Engraved from the Original in Possession of ANDREW LINDEGREEN Esq.r

    Woodfall & Freeman : London, No 95 Strand (publisher)

    Thomas Adams (active 1793) (publisher) [bottom right, below title:] LONDON, Publish'd Sept.r 20. 1793, by Woodfall & Freeman, Printsellers to His Majesty, N.o 95, Strand; R. Dodd, Alsop Buildings, New Road, Marybone; & by T. Adams, Shaftsbury.

  • Watermark: None visible

    Condition: no fold lines

  • 39.0 x 64.2 cm (neatline)

    42.1 x 64.2 cm (image)

    44.4 x 69.0 cm (platemark)

    45.7 x 70.0 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    This View of the French National Frigate LA CLEOPATRE, Commanded by Mons.r Mullon, as brought into Action by his Majesty’s Frigate LA NYMPHE, / Commanded by Capt.n Pellew on the Morning of the 17th of June 1793, Is humbly Inscribed to the Officers of the Royal Navy by their obedient Serv.t Rob.t Dodd. [bottom centre, below view]

    Additional text:

    [bottom left, left of title, a summary of the numbers of guns and men on the La Nymphe:] English Force [bottom right, right of title, a summary of the numbers of guns and men on the La Cleopatre:] French Force.

    Annotations:

    George III heading [black pencil:] Military Naval Engagement 17 June 1793 Port Folio No 5.

    Other annotations: [bottom left, black pencil, obscured by paper backing: the old heading; bottom left, black pencil:] 96.a.; [top left, black pencil:] 11; [top right, black pencil:] 13; [bottom right, black pencil:] 1793-13; [centre, black pencil, obscured by paper backing:] 11.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Naval Engagement View of the French National Frigate la Cleopatre commanded by M. Mullon as brought into Action by H.M. Frigate la Nymphe commanded by Captain Pellew on the morning of the 17.th of June 1793: by R. Dodd, 1793.

  • Subject(s)

    Start Point, Devon, England, UK (50°13'17"N 03°38'26"E)

  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    C.D. Hall, 'Pellew, Edward, first Viscount Exmouth (1757–1833)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edn 2009.

    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.96.a refers to a pair of prints by Dodds, Woodfall and Freeman of which this is the first

Page revisions

  • 14 March 2024