[TRAFALGAR.]

Plan of the attack by Lord Nelson, on the combined fleet, October 21st 1805.

London, published by R. Dodd, marine painter, November 1805. 680 x 480 mm, coloured aquatint, with letterpress text. This plan, illustrating the commencement of the battle of Trafalgar, was issued soon after news of Nelson’s victory had reached England. It was prepared and published by Robert Dodd, the celebrated marine artist who had earlier painted the rescue from the sinking Vengeur du Peuple at the Glorious First of June (now at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich). In a note below the aquatint, he demonstrates his understanding of naval technology, stating: ‘In order that the enemy’s line should be clearly distinguished, by shewing the colours of each nation distinctly, the artist has judged it best (to avoid confusion that the smallness of scale would occasion), to dispense with exhibiting their sails and rigging, which if introduced, would in this view, have prevented their different flags from being seen; but at the same time begs leave to inform, that they lay too with their maintopsails to the mast, waiting the approach of the British columns, which are bearing down to them under a press of sail, and broke through their line with royals and studding sails set; and, to use the Admiral’s words, “like true British seamen engaged them at the muzzles of their guns”, whose admirable letter will be read by every lover of his country with heartfelt satisfaction, and is subjoined, as the best description of this little sketch’.Printed below this is Collingwood’s letter to the Admiralty describing the battle, his general orders congratulating those who took part in it and a list of ships in each fleet. Lieutenant Lapenotiere had arrived with these dispatches at the Admiralty at one o’clock in the morning on 6 November and they were ‘rushed out in a London Gazette Extraordinary and reprinted in every newspaper the following day. The emotional reaction was immediate . . . . There is no doubting the widespread sense of loss throughout the country . . . . Newspaper editors struggled for sufficiently solemn phrases, loyal addresses were composed to the Crown from every conceivable body, Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund was unprecedented in its generosity to the combatants’ (Knight, Pursuit of Victory pp. 528–9). Broadsheets, such as this, were issued, in an accessible pictorial form, to elucidate an interested public as to the details of the battle as well as to commemorate it.

• GBP 4,000.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: T2903

• bookseller: Bernard Quaritch Ltd. (GREAT BRITAIN)