Napoleonic Wars (1803-15)
Views of naval engagements and maps of battles
View of the Battle of Lissa, 1811 (Vis, island: Splitsko-Dalmatinska, Croatia) 43°02'42"N 16°09'06"E
published Feb 1812Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper in black and blue; hand coloured; edged with paper | 50.2 x 63.4 cm (image) | RCIN 735160.c
One of a trio of prints; the companions are at RCINs 735160.a, b.
The Amphion, shown in the foreground, right of centre of this view, was a 36-gun frigate of which William Hoste (later Sir William Hoste) had been captain since 13 October 1805. Between 23 June 1808 and 25 December 1809, the ship took or destroyed 218 enemy vessels. On this action, Hoste was outnumbered by six frigates to four, and by 276 guns and 2,000 men to 124 guns and 900 men. The other three British frigates, shown to the right of this view, were the Cerberus, Active and Volage.
This print is dedicated to Charles Philip Yorke (1764-1834), First Lord of the Admiralty from 28 April 1810 to March 1812.
Additional text: [bottom right, right of the name 'Andrews':] Proof [bottom left, left of title, a note of the numbers of guns and men:] ENGLISH FORCE [bottom right, a note of the numbers of guns and men:] FRENCH FORCE.
For further reading, see:
J.K. Laughton, 'Hoste, Sir William, first baronet (1780–1828)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edition 2007.
R. Thorne, 'Yorke, Charles Philip (1764–1834)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008.
Condition: no fold lines.
George Andrews (active 1794-1813) (publisher) [bottom centre, below edge of view:] Published Feb.y 1812, by George Andrews, Marine Print Warehouse, 7 Charing Cross, London.
JL Few (active 1811) (artist)
Thomas Whitcombe (?1763-1824) (artist) [bottom left, below edge of view:] Painted by T. Whitcombe, from an original Sketch by J.L. Few, H.M.S. Amphion.
Robert Havell (1769-1832) (engraver)
Daniel Havell (d. 1826) (engraver) [bottom right, below edge of view:] Engraved by R. & D. Havell, from the original Picture in the Possession of Edward Spencer Curling Esq.r
Charles Philip Yorke (1764-1834) (dedicatee)
Subject(s)
HMS Amphion (frigate, launched 1798; sunk 1820)HMS Cerberus (frigate, launched 1794; sold 1814)HMS Active (frigate, launched 1799; broken up 1860)Volage (HMS)Navy-FranceNavy-Venetian RepublicRoyal NavyWatermark: J WHATMAN [date not visible]
Condition: no fold lines
45.6 x 63.4 cm (neatline)
50.2 x 63.4 cm (image)
53.1 x 68.4 cm (platemark)
55.2 x 71.0 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE CHARLES YORKE, FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY, &c. &c. / Plate 3,,rd Representing the Favorite of 44 Guns, Commodore Dubordieu on Shore and on Fire - Active and Cerberus taking possession of / the Corona of 44 Guns, and a Boat from the Amphion boarding the Bellona of 32 Guns - The Flora of 44 Guns escaping / after having struck her Colours owing to the crippled state of the British Squadron / Is by permission respectfully Dedicated by his most ob,,t humble Serv,,t / George Andrews. [bottom, below view]
Additional text:
[bottom right, right of the name 'Andrews':] Proof [bottom left, left of title, a note of the numbers of guns and men:] ENGLISH FORCE [bottom right, a note of the numbers of guns and men:] FRENCH FORCE.
Annotations:
(Recto) [bottom left, black pencil:] XV-160-c March 13 –1811. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 210.c.(iii); [top right, black pencil:] 10; [centre, black pencil:] 1811-10.
George III catalogue entry:
Naval Engagement Three Views of the Engagement between a Squadron of British Frigates consisting of the Amphion, Cerberus, Active and Volage; Captains Hoste, Whitby, Gordon and Hornby: and the combined French and Venetian Squadrons, off the Island of Lissa in the Adriatic Sea, on the 13.th of March 1811: painted by Whitcombe from sketches by Few, engraved by Havell, and published by Andrews, 1812.
Subject(s)
Vis, island: Splitsko-Dalmatinska, Croatia (43°02'42"N 16°09'06"E)
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.210.c
J.K. Laughton, 'Hoste, Sir William, first baronet (1780–1828)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edition 2007.
R. Thorne, 'Yorke, Charles Philip (1764–1834)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008.
Page revisions
25 May 2024
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