Napoleonic Wars (1803-15)
Views of naval engagements and maps of battles
Curaçao, 1807
Taking the ISLAND of CURACOA, by SIR CHA.S BRISBANE and the Officers under his Command; CAP.TNS LYDARD, WOOD and BOLTON, Commanding H.M.S.S ARATHUSA, LATONA, ANSON and FISGUARD, Jan.y 1. 1807
published 4 Jun 1809Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; hand coloured; edged with paper | 44.4 x 63.4 cm (image) | RCIN 735132
This view shows the British ships, flying the White Ensign, under the command of Captain Charles Brisbane (?1769-1829) entering the harbour of Curaçao (presumably at present-day Willemstad), being fired on from the surrounding Dutch forts which are flying the Dutch flag. The capture of the island of Curaçao from the Dutch by a small British force after a short confrontation between the two forces, earned Brisbane a knighthood, and the captains swords, medals and vases. Charles Brisbane was knighted after this action. The Anson, and Captain Lydiard, bearing the sketches from which this print was made, returned to Britain soon afterwards.
For further reading, see:
'Biographical memoir of the late Captain Charles Lydiard, of the Royal Navy', in The Naval Chronicle, vol. 19 (January-July 1808), pp.441-515.
J.K. Laughton, 'Brisbane, Sir Charles (1769?–1829)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
Condition: no fold lines; small tear to bottom right edge. Verso: induced discolouration and surface dirt.
Edward Orme (1775-1848) (print seller and publisher) [bottom centre, below title:] Published & Sold June 4. 1809. by Edward Orme, Printseller to the King, Engraver & Publisher Bond Street, corner of Brook S.t London.
Matthew Dubourg (1779-1863) (engraver) [bottom left, left of title, below edge of view:] From a Drawing made on the Spot / brought by Capt.n Lydard
[bottom right, below edge of view:] Engraved by M. DubourgWatermark: J WHATMAN / 1806
Condition: no fold lines; small tear to bottom right edge. Verso: induced discolouration and surface dirt
43.2 x 63.4 cm (neatline)
44.4 x 63.4 cm (image)
52.3 x 69.1 cm (platemark)
55.0 x 71.8 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
Taking the ISLAND of CURACOA, by SIR CHA.S BRISBANE and the Officers under his Command; CAP.TNS LYDARD, WOOD and BOLTON, Commanding H.M.S.S ARATHUSA, LATONA, ANSON and FISGUARD, Jan.y 1. 1807. [bottom, below view]
Annotations:
(Recto) [bottom left, black pencil:] XV.132-. (Verso) [bottom, left of centre, black pencil:] 186.a; [bottom right, black pencil:] 9; [centre, black pencil:] 1807-1.
George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement Sir Cha.s Brisbane and the Officers under his command, Captains Lydard, Wood and Bolton, commanding H.M. Ships Arethusa, Latona, Anson and Fisguard, taking the Island of Curaçao on the 1.st of Jan.y 1807; engraved by Dubourg and published by Orme, 1807.
Subject(s)
Curaçao Island (12°10'01"N 68°58'00"W)
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.186.a Parker has rendered Captain Lydiard's name as 'Lydiard' in his transcription of the details of the print. Although Captain Charles Lydiard's name was, indeed, spelt with an 'i', this letter is missing from the rendering of the name on the print.
'Biographical memoir of the late Captain Charles Lydiard, of the Royal Navy', in The Naval Chronicle, vol. 19 (January-July 1808), pp.441-515.
J.K. Laughton, 'Brisbane, Sir Charles (1769?–1829)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
Page revisions
14 March 2024
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