Capture of La Vengance 1800
Capture of La Vengance Aug 21st 1800. Painted by T. Whitcombe. Engraved by T. Sutherland. Publish'd Dec 1st 1816 at 48 Strand for J. Jenkin's Naval Achievements. Included with the print is the original folio text pages account of the action as first published with the aquatint and watermarked J. Whatman 1816.
Original aquatint engraving on medium weight wove paper with wide margins. Good overall condition with exceptional original colour. The plate has the date of publication and the name of the publisher beneath the engraved title. The approx engraved image area of the plate is 7" x 10.25" (175mm x 260mm). Engraved plate mark area is approx 8.5 x 11.75 (215mm x 300mm). The folio sheet size is approx 11.5" x 14" (290mm x 355mm).
Short extract from the folio text pages included: CAPTURE OF LA VENGANCE, AUGUST 21, 1800. Copy of a Letter from Vice Admiral Lord HUGH SEYMOUR, to EVAN NEPEAN, Esq. dated Port—Royal Harbour, August 31. SIR,——-I have very sincere pleasure in forwarding to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a letter which I have received from Captain D. Milne of his Majesty’s ship Seine, describing an action which does great honour to him, his officers and ship’s company, and which ended in the capture of the French republican frigate La Vengeance, a ship of a very superior force to that which he commanded. Captain Milne has done so much justice to his officers and men by his report of their conduct on that occasion, that I have only to offer my congratulations to their Lordships upon the success which attended their exertions, and to express my hope, that it will receive marks of their Lordships’ favour proportioned to. . .
James Jenkins The Naval Achievements of Great Britain. From the Year 1793 to 1817." As a record of naval events spanning a period of over twenty years it has no precedent. At no time prior to 1817 had a publisher attempted such a complete volume of documentary naval prints. It is the quality of accuracy which makes Jenkins so valuable" Roger Quarm curator of pictures at the National Maritime Museum 1998.
A genuine antique print over 200 years old.