Napoleonic Wars (1803-15)
Views of naval engagements and maps of battles
St Sebastian, 1813
STORMING THE TOWN & CASTLE OF S.T SEBASTIAN in SPAIN, SEP.R 1813, / DEDICATED TO GENERAL SIR THOMAS GRAHAM, BAR.T K.B. &c. AND TO THE OFFICERS EMPLOYED IN THAT EVER MEMORABLE SEIGE, / By their devoted humble servant Edw,,d Orme
published 1 Nov 1813Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; hand coloured; edged with paper | 45.2 x 59.4 cm (image) | RCIN 735183
The first assault of the siege of San Sebastian was unsuccessful but at the second attempt, the siege batteries fired over the infantry at the fortress's high curtain wall. This was a dangerous operation, skilfully undertaken and resulted in severe casualties to the French causing them to surrender on 8 September.
This view, looking west, shows the fortress of San Sebastian, situated on a high promontory, with the town of San Sebastian nestled at its foot, on the south side, protected by strong curtain walls. On the eastern side of the town, between the foreground, which is occupied by British forces, and the town's fortifications, is the estuary of the Urumea River. This scene, representing the assault on 31 August, shows the estuary at low tide, which was the only time that the siege batteries - shown here together with the parallels and with all guns in action - could operate. Two great breaches can be seen in the eastern walls of the town. What appear to be the British blockading fleet, are shown giving support fire.
For further reading, see:
D. Gates, 'Graham, Thomas, Baron Lynedoch (1748–1843)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edition 2008.
Condition: no fold lines. Verso: surface dirt and discolouration.
Edward Orme (1775-28 September 1848) (publisher) [bottom centre, below edge of view, above title:] London, Published & Sold Nov.r 1.st 1813, by Edw.d Orme, Publisher to His Majesty & H.R.H. the Prince Regent, Bond Street, (corner of Brook Str.).
John Heaviside Clark (c. 1771-1863) (engraver)
Matthew Dubourg (1779-1863) (engraver) [bottom right, below edge of view:] Clark & Dubourg Sculp.t
Anonymous (draughtsman) [bottom left, below edge of view:] Drawn by an Officer on the Spot.
Watermark: J WHATMAN [date cropped]
Condition: no fold lines. Verso: surface dirt and discolouration
41.7 x 59.4 cm (neatline)
45.2 x 59.4 cm (image)
47.4 x 64.8 cm (platemark)
50.7 x 67.4 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
STORMING THE TOWN & CASTLE OF S.T SEBASTIAN in SPAIN, SEP.R 1813, / DEDICATED TO GENERAL SIR THOMAS GRAHAM, BAR.T K.B. &c. AND TO THE OFFICERS EMPLOYED IN THAT EVER MEMORABLE SEIGE, / By their devoted humble servant Edw,,d Orme. [bottom, below view]
Annotations:
(Recto) [bottom left, black pencil:] XV.183; [bottom right, black pencil:] 24. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil, in Evelyn Heaton-Smith’s hand?:] 232**(ii); [top right, black pencil:] 24.
George III catalogue entry:
Sebastian, St. View of the Storming the Town and Castle of S.t Sebastian in Spain in Sept.r 1813: engraved by Clark and Dubourg, and published by Orme, 1813.
Subject(s)
San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain (43°18'46"N 01°58'30"W)
Bibliographic reference(s)
Crookshank, C. de W, Prints of British Military Operations: a cat. raisonné with historical descriptions covering the period from...Abyssinia, London, 1921. no.136
D. Gates, 'Graham, Thomas, Baron Lynedoch (1748–1843)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edition 2008.
Page revisions
14 March 2024
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