Views of naval engagements and maps of battles
Views of naval engagements and maps of battles
Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto | 48.2 x 72.8 cm (image) | RCIN 735122
Thomas Hellyer (active 1797-1807)
A view of the final stages of the naval Battle of Trafalgar, fought on 21 October 1805 between the British and the French, resulting in a British victory. Napoleonic Wars (1803-15).
Not described in Parker. Much of the lettering in the title is faintly engraved and the upper-case letters are engraved in outline, suggesting the possibility that this example may be a proof impression.
Thomas Hellyer (active 1797-1807) (draughtsman, engraver and publisher) [[bottom left, left below ship names Conqueror etc., and left of title:] Drawn & Engraved by T. Hellyer from an exact representation given to him by an Officer of the Victory
George Andrews (active 1794-1813) (publisher) [bottom right, below ships' name Leviathan, and right of title:] Published February 1 1807 by Tho,,s Hellyer Lewisham Bridge, Kent / and G. Andrews N.o 7, Charing Cross.
Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) (dedicatee)
Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood (1750-1810) (dedicatee)
Admiral William Carnegie, 7th Earl of Northesk (1758-1831) (dedicatee)
Watermark: On print?: J WHATMAN
Condition: no fold lines. Verso: induced discolouration
44.2 x 72.8 cm (neatline)
48.2 x 72.8 cm (image)
50.6 x 75.8 cm (platemark)
52.3 x 77.0 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
THE BATTLE OFF TRAFALGAR. [bottom centre, below view, and to each side of the coat of arms of Horatio Nelson]
Dedication:
[bottom, below title and author statements:] This Plate representing the exact position of the Victory and of the leading Ships of each Line Is most respectfully Dedicated to the Memory of Lord Viscount Nelson & Bronti And to Lords Collingwood & Northesk the Officers Seamen & Marines / That so gloriously PRESERVED THE HONOR OF THEIR COUNTRY on that memorable Day, / By their obedient Servant Tho.s Hellyer.
Additional text:
[bottom, below the edge of the view, the names of the ships and some of their commanders are engraved below the position in which they appear in the view. From left to right:] Conqueror, Bucentaur, Adml Villeneuve, Bellerophon, Santa Anna, Ry.l Sovereign, Lord Collingwood, Neptune, Fougeux, Temeraire, Redoubtable, Victory, Lord Nelson, Santiffima Trinadada, Adm.l Cisneros, Leviathan.
Annotations:
(Recto) [bottom left, black pencil:] 17; [top left, black pencil:] XV-122. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 175.ee; [centre, black pencil:] 17; [centre, black pencil, obscured by paper backing:] 17; [bottom right, black pencil, obscured by paper backing:] £1.1.0.
George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement The Battle off Trafalgar on the 21.st of Oct.r 1805, representing the exact position of the Victory and of the leading Ships of each Line: by T. Hellyer, 1807. [The same entry occurs under the heading Trafalgar.]
From the collection of military and naval maps and prints formed by George III (1738-1820)
Cabo Trafalgar, Andalusia, Spain (36°10'51"N 06°02'01"W)