Coloured Aquatint Entitled " Lord Howe's Victory June 1st 1794" from the Volume "The Naval Achievements of Great Britain from the Year 1793-1817" Published by James Jenkins 1817

A fine coloured aquatint entitled " Lord Howe's Victory June 1st 1794" from the volume "The Naval Achievements of Great Britain from the year 1793-1817" published by James Jenkins of The Strand, London in 1817. Roger Quarm the curator of pictures at the National Maritime Museum has said of this work "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". The published volume offered 55 aquatint illustrations after paintings by T Whitcombe. Most engravings were by T Sutherland, (as in this example) but others were done by Jeakes and Bailey. This is Plate II depicting Lord Howe's action. The French fleet had sailed out of Brest in order to protect some merchant ships. The battle took place over two days, being interrupted by fog (Plate I depicts the previous day). Lord Howe defeated the French and captured seven vessels. This image depicts the sinking of the French ship "Vengeur".