Defense of Devon & Cornwall from Spanish Armada c1588
The Defence of Devon & Cornwall from the Spanish Armada c1588 after John Pine. Exceptional bird's-eye view and the charts of the Armada off Cornwall and Devon. The Spanish Armada engaged by the British in Plymouth Sound with Sir Francis Drake in HMS Revenge. After The Tapestry Hangings of the House of Lords Representing the Engagements between the English and Spanish Fleets, in the year 1588. First engraved by John Pine and published June 1739. Drawn by C. Lempriere and H. Gravelot. London. A scarce facimile edition by Chapel Court Gallery Looe Cornwall, produced by the Cotswold collotype company. With later hand colour.
In 1591, to commemorate the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Lord Howard of Effingham commissioned the Dutch marine painter Hendrik Cornelisz Vroom to design ten scenes of the Spanish Armada to be made into tapestry wall-hangings by François Spierinck of Delft. The tapestries were purchased by James I in 1616 and later came to hang in the House of Lords, where they were copied by John Pine (1690-1756). The tapestries were destroyed in the great fire of 1834. Sometime later highly decorative engravings were drawn by Hubert-François Gravelot and engraved and published by John Pine in 1739.
Top Engraved Plates (Charts III & IV): Both charts cover the coast of part of Cornwall from Dodman Point to Maidencombe in Devon. The charts show wind-heads blowing from the SW and the flight of the Spanish Fleet, with the English Fleet in pursuit. The left chart shows the engagement between the two fleets off Looe.
Bottom Engraved Plates: (Charts I & II): Chart I, The Lord Admiral was informed by Captain Thomas Flemming, Commander of the Golden Hind Pinnace, who had been left in the Channel for Discovery, that the Spanish Fleet was seen near the Lizard, the Wind being then Southerly, or South-West. Tho’ the Wind blew hard into Plymouth-Sound, and the Intelligence was not received ’till about four o’ Clock in the Afternoon, yet his Lordship, with much Diligence and Industry, got out the same Evening with six of his Ships, and anchored with them alone the whole Night, without the Harbour.
Chart II, The next Day, July 20, the Lord High-Admiral, accompanied with fifty four Ships of his Fleet, that had plied out of the Sound, notwithstanding the South-West Wind, advanced towards the Enemy. They were scarce got as far as the Eddystone, when they discovered, about Noon, the Spanish Fleet to the Westward, opposite to Fowey, in form of a half Moon (the Points whereof were about seven Miles asunder) coming slowly up the Channel, tho’ with full Sails. The English suffered them to pass by unmolested, that they might chace them in the rear, with all the Advantage of the Wind.
Dimensions: Visible image to mount edge aperture: Height 13 1/4" x Width 21 3/4” (Mount external dimension: Height 18 1/2” x Width 25 3/4”). Sold with existing mounts as found ready to re-frame or have re mounted and framed.
Price: Sold as a pair £375 plus International shipping.
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