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 in black and blue on paper; hand coloured; edged with paper | 47.0 x 62.3 cm (image) | RCIN 735160.b
A view of the Battle of Lissa (or Battle of Vis), fought on 13 March 1811 between a combined French and Venetian squadron, commanded by Rear-Admiral Bernard Dubourdieu (1773-1811), and a smaller British squadron, commanded by Captain William Hoste (1780-1828), resulting in a British victory. Napoleonic Wars (1803-15). Proof copy.
One of a trio of prints; the companions are at RCINs 735160.a, c.
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.
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 Esqr
Charles Philip Yorke (1764-1834) (dedicatee)
Subject(s)
Volage (HMS)Royal NavyNavy-FranceNavy-Venetian RepublicHMS Amphion (frigate, launched 1798; sunk 1820)HMS Cerberus (frigate, launched 1794; sold 1814)HMS Active (frigate, launched 1799; broken up 1860)Watermark: J WHATMAN [date not visible]
Condition: no fold lines
42.5 x 62.3 cm (neatline)
7.0 x 62.3 cm (image)
51.4 x 68.2 cm (platemark)
54.0 x 71.2 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE CHARLES YORKE, FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY, &c. &c. / Plate 2,,nd Representing the British Line after Wearing to renew the Action, Starboard division of the Enemy passing under the Amphion's Stern and raking her / Larboard division hawling to the Wind on the larboard Tack, engaging the Cerberus, Active and Volage / Is with 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.
Annotations:
(Recto) [bottom left, black pencil:] XV-160-b March 13-1811. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 210.c.(ii); [top right, black pencil:] 9; [centre, black pencil:] 1811-9.
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
5 June 2024
Current version
