Napoleonic Wars (1803-15)
Views of naval engagements and maps of battles
Boulogne, 1811 (Boulogne, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France) 50°43'00"N 01°37'00"E
published 4 Jun 1812Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; hand coloured | 28.2 x 35.0 cm (image) | RCIN 735168
The first stage of this action took place on 20 September while Napoleon was inspecting the French flotilla which was moored under the protection of shore batteries off Boulogne, when seven French praams (armed flat-bottomed boats) sailed out to attack the Naiad, whose captain, Philip Carteret (later Sir Philip Carteret, second baronet Silvester; 1777-1828; not 'Casteret' as given in the title of this print), returned the fire. This view shows the second stage of the action which was recommenced on 21 September, the seven French ships now being joined by fifteen smaller ships, while the Naiad joined up with Rinaldo, Redpole, Castilian and Viper. The smaller British force defeated the French, capturing the Ville de Lyons, one of the larger praams.
The artist of this view is named as 'Lieut. E. Vidal'. Two naval officers with the surname Vidal are recorded at this period. One, Alexander Thomas Emeric Vidal (1792-1863), became a naval hydrographer and Vice-Admiral, but the RN Executive Officers lists him as not being promoted to Lieutenant until 1815. His father was a naval officer, Emeric Vidal. It is not known whether the artist of this view is either of these officers, or another officer with the same name.
For further reading, see:
An account of the action is given in the London Gazette no.16524, 21-24 September 1811, pp.1861-3.
J.K. Laughton, 'Silvester, Sir Philip Carteret, second baronet (1777–1828)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
G.S. Ritchie, 'Vidal, Alexander Thomas Emeric (1792–1863)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
Condition: no fold lines. Verso: ink smudge.
Edward Orme (1775-28 September 1848) (publisher) [bottom centre, below edge of view:] Published June 4.th 1812, by Edw.d Orme, Printseller, and Publisher, to His Majesty & the Prince Regent, Bond Street, (corner of Brook St.) London.
[Emeric] Vidal (active 1811) (artist) [bottom left, below edge of view:] Drawn by Lieut,,t E,, Vidal.
John Heaviside Clark (c. 1771-1863) (engraver)
Matthew Dubourg (1779-1863) (engraver) [bottom right, below edge of view:] Engraved by Clark & Dubourg.
Subject(s)
Navy-FranceHMS Naiad (frigate, launched 1797; broken up 1898)Royal NavyWatermark: None
Condition: no fold lines. Verso: ink smudge
24.9 x 35.0 cm (neatline)
28.2 x 35.0 cm (image)
29.9 x 37.6 cm (platemark)
33.6 x 44.5 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
SIGNAL DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH SQUADRON OF 7 Praams, CARRYING EACH 12, GUNS, 24 P. EACH, & Fifteen Brigs, OFF BOULOGNE, 20.TH SEP.R 1811, / In the presence and direction of Bonaparte, / By H.M.S. Naiad, Cap.tn Phil. Casteret, and the Castilian, Renaldo, and Redpole Brigs, / Which terminated in the CAPTURE of the VILLE DE LYONS, one of the largest of the 7 Praams. / Rear Adm.l Baste, Commanded the French Squadron. [bottom centre, below title]
Annotations:
George III heading: Naval Engagement off Boulogne 20 Sep. 1811.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 217.b; [bottom right, black pencil:] 7/6.
George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement View of the defeat of the French Squadron of 7 Praams and 15 Brigs off Boulogne in the presence of Bonaparte, by H.M. Ship Naiad, Captain Phil. Casteret, and the Castilian, Renaldo and Redpole Brigs, on the 20.th of Sept.r 1811: by Lieut. E. Vidal, engraved by Clark and Dubourg, and published by Orme, 1812. [The same entry appears under the heading Boulogne.]
Subject(s)
Boulogne, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (50°43'00"N 01°37'00"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
An account of the action is given in the London Gazette no.16524, 21-24 September 1811, pp.1861-3.
J.K. Laughton, 'Silvester, Sir Philip Carteret, second baronet (1777–1828)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
G.S. Ritchie, 'Vidal, Alexander Thomas Emeric (1792–1863)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
Page revisions
3 November 2024
Current version
