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 1 Nov 1811Aquatint with etching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the paper backing brought round the edges of the recto | 41.3 x 63.2 cm (image) | RCIN 735162.b
The Amphion, shown in the middle foreground, 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. Two of the other three British frigates, shown to the right of this view, were the Cerberus and Active, to each side of the Venetian ship Corona, while the Volage is shown to the left of another Venetian ship, the Bellona.
This print is dedicated to the commanders of the British frigates: Hoste, captain of the Amphion; James Alexander Gordon (later Sir James, and Admiral of the Fleet; 1782-1869), captain of the Active; Phipps Hornby (later Sir Phipps, and Admiral; 1785-1867), captain of the Volage; and Henry Whitby (1781-1812), captain of the Cerberus.
One of a pair of aquatints; the companion print is at RCIN 735162.a.
Additional text: [bottom, below edge of view, the names of the ships according to their position in the picture.] [Bottom left, left of title, the names of the ships and their captains, and numbers of guns and men:] British Force [bottom right, right of title, the names of the ships, numbers of guns and men of the French and Venetian fleet:] Enemys Force.
For further reading, see:
J.K. Laughton, 'Hoste, Sir William, first baronet (1780–1828)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edition 2007.
J.K. Laughton, 'Gordon, Sir James Alexander (1782–1869)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
J.K. Laughton, 'Hornby, Sir Phipps (1785–1867)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
'Biographical Memoir of the late Henry Whitby, Esq, Captain in the Royal Navy', in James Stanier Clarke (Ed.), The Naval Chronicle, vol.28, July-December 1812; pp.265-352.
Condition: no fold lines. Verso: brown discolouration.
Robert Dodd (1748-1815) (artist and publisher) [bottom left, below edge of view:] Painted by R. Dodd; [bottom centre, below title:] London, Published by R. Dodd, Lucas Place, Commercial Road, Nov.r 1.st 1811.
Subject(s)
HMS Amphion (frigate, launched 1798; sunk 1820)HMS Active (frigate, launched 1799; broken up 1860)Volage (HMS)HMS Cerberus (frigate, launched 1794; sold 1814)Navy-FranceNavy-Venetian RepublicRoyal NavyWatermark: None visible
Condition: no fold lines. Verso: brown discolouration
38.4 x 63.2 cm (neatline)
41.3 x 63.2 cm (image)
43.7 x 67.3 cm (platemark)
46.4 x 70.0 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
This View, of the Defeat of the FRENCH and ITALIAN Squadrons, By his Majesty's Frigates AMPHION, ACTIVE, VOLAGE and CERBERUS after an Action of six hours, / which ended in the French Commodore being driven on shore and burnt, another French Frigate (the Flora,) struck her colours, but escaped, the Corona of 40 Guns, and the Bellona / of 28 Guns taken, the rest of their Squadron dispersed, is most respectfully Inscribed to the British Commanders by their Obed,,t Servant / Rob,,t Dodd. [bottom, below view]
Additional text:
[bottom, below edge of view, the names of the ships according to their position in the picture.] [Bottom left, left of title, the names of the ships and their captains, and numbers of guns and men:] British Force [bottom right, right of title, the names of the ships, numbers of guns and men of the French and Venetian fleet:] Enemys Force.
Annotations:
(Recto) [bottom left, black pencil:] XV-162-b March 13-1811. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 210.a.(ii); [top right, black pencil, obscured by paper backing:] 4; [centre, black pencil:] 1811-4.
George III catalogue entry:
Naval engagement Two views of the Engagement between H.M. Frigates Amphion, Active, Volage and Cerberus, and the combined French and Italian Squadrons, close to the Island of Lissa in the Gulf of Venice, on the 13.th of March 1811: by R. Dodd, 1811.
Subject(s)
Vis, island: Splitsko-Dalmatinska, Croatia (43°02'42"N 16°09'06"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
J.K. Laughton, 'Hoste, Sir William, first baronet (1780–1828)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004; online edition 2007.
J.K. Laughton, 'Gordon, Sir James Alexander (1782–1869)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
J.K. Laughton, 'Hornby, Sir Phipps (1785–1867)', Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
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.a
'Biographical Memoir of the late Henry Whitby, Esq, Captain in the Royal Navy', in James Stanier Clarke (Ed.), The Naval Chronicle, vol.28, July-December 1812; pp.265-352.
Page revisions
5 June 2024
Current version
