Trafalgar - Nelson and the Napoleonic Wars, including The Matcham Collection

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Lot 121
  • 121

English School circa 1782

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Description

  • English School
  • The Battle of St. Kitts
  • Inscribed The Action of the Island of St. Kitts, between the English Fleet of 22 Sail of the Line Commanded by Sir Sam Hood Rear Adm. of the Blue, and the French Fleet of 34 Commanded by Count de Grasse, February the 25 1782
  • Ink, watercolour and crayon, unframed
  • 34 by 49cm.; 13½ by 19¼in.

Catalogue Note

Rear Admiral Hood was dispatched to the island of St. Kitts in January 1782 to relieve the British garrison which was being blockaded by a French fleet under the command of Admiral de Grasse.  Hood displayed extraordinary tactical awareness by anchoring his ships of the line in succession, their warps were sprung allowing two or more or ships to pivot and engage the enemy.  The close formation is clearly displayed in the present work.  The detail of not only the battle but the forts, houses and plantations on the island strongly suggest this was painted by a first hand witness.
(Nicholas Tracy, Nelson's Battles, the Art of Victory in the Age of Sail, 1996, Chatham publishing)