French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802)
Maps and prints of naval engagements collected by George III during the decade of war
View of the Battle of Famars, 1793 (Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France) 50°21'00"N 03°32'00"E; (Famars, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France) 50°19'02"N 03°31'10"E
1796Stipple engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto | 46.6 x 57.8 cm (image) | RCIN 735013.a
This view shows the attack made by the left column of sixteen infantry battalions and eighteen cavalry squadrons at the southern end of the Famars plateau. Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1763-1827), who commanded the column, is seen to the left of the view, mounted on his charger, looking behind him at, from left to right: Prince Adolphus (1774-1850; seventh son of George III), General Sir James Murray-Pulteney (c.1755-1811; Adjutant-General), Lieutenant-Colonel Isaac Gascoyne of the Coldstream Guards (c.1763-1841; later General), and the Hanoverian officer, Field Marshal Wilhelm von Freytag (1720-98). In the background to the right is the tower of the observatory of Valenciennes flying the French national flag and, to its right, at the edge of the view, the church of St Nicholas. In the centre the charge of the Hanoverian Corps de Garde with the standards of the Elector of Hanover (George III) and the other bearing his cipher: GR III.
This would appear to be a proof copy of the print which later bore a full title, incorporating a dedication to the Duke of York and his coat of arms: 'To His Royal Highness The Duke of York / This print of the Memorable Attack upon the FRENCH CAMP on THE HILLS OF FAMARS NEAR VALENCIENNES by the Hanoverian Corp de Garde & Combined Armies / under the Command of His Royal Highness on the 23.d of May 1793 Is most humbly Dedicated by his most devoted humble Serv,,t Dan.l Orme.' This was also published on 1 February 1796. Copies of this full-titled state are in Brown University Library (call number: GB-B 1793 lf-1) and the British Museum Department of Prints and Drawings Registration number 1917, 1208.2388. The British Museum copy is described, on the website, as being printed in colour.
See RCIN 735013.b for the printed key to this print.
For further reading, see:
R.N.W. Thomas, 'Pulteney, Sir James Murray-, seventh baronet (c.1755–1811)', DNB, 2004; online edition, Jan 2008.
H.M. Chichester, 'Gascoyne, Isaac (c.1763–1841)', DNB, 2004.
Condition: no fold lines.
Daniel Orme (1766-1837) (engraver and publisher) [bottom centre, below title:] Sold & Published Feb.y 1. 1796, by Dan.l Orme, N.o 14, Old Bond Street, London.
After Mather Byles Brown (1761-1831) (artist)
Watermark: None visible
Condition: no fold lines
43.9 x 57.8 cm (neatline)
46.6 x 57.8 cm (image)
47.8 x 60.2 cm (platemark)
48.9 x 61.3 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
The BATTLE of FAMARS / Near VALENCIENNES on the 23,,d of May 1793 [bottom centre, below view, in faint outline lettering]
Annotations:
George III heading [black pencil:] Military Battle of Famars 23 May 1793 Port folio No 3 G-3; [bottom right, black pencil:] 1793-12; [top right, black pencil:] 12; [top left, black pencil:] 10.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil, obscured by paper backing, the old heading.]
George III catalogue entry:
Famars View of the Battle of Famars near Valenciennes on the 23.d of May 1793: by M. Brown, engraved by D. Orme, 1796: with an Index Plate and Description.
Subject(s)
Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (50°21'00"N 03°32'00"E)
Famars, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (50°19'02"N 03°31'10"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
H.M. Chichester, 'Gascoyne, Isaac (c.1763–1841)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
R.N.W. Thomas, 'Pulteney, Sir James Murray, seventh baronet (c.1755–1811)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edition, Jan 2008.
Page revisions
7 June 2024
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