Attributed to William E D Stuart (fl. 1848-1867)

Attributed to William E D Stuart (fl. 1848-1867) H.M.S. Victory engaging the Spanish Vice-Admiral's flagship at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, 14th February 1797 oil on canvas 59 x 105cm

After some early successes, notably the Battle of the Glorious First of June (1794), the war with Revolutionary France and her allies was not going well for Great Britain as 1796 drew to a close. A Franco-Spanish expedition to Ireland was being prepared and the large but undermanned Spanish fleet was ordered to join its French counterpart already making for Brest. The Spaniards, under Admiral de Cordova, put to sea from Cartagena with twenty-seven ships-of-the-line in company with twelve frigates only to find Admiral Sir John Jervis lying in wait for them off Cape St. Vincent. On 13th February Jervis was joined by Commodore Nelson’s squadron and, the following day, he brought the enemy to action in what proved a landmark victory despite the numerical superiority of Cordova’s fleet. Aided by Nelson’s tactical brilliance at a crucial moment in the battle, Jervis decimated the Spanish fleet and forced the remnants to withdraw to Cadiz. Jervis’s flagship H.M.S. Victory emerged triumphant from the action and it was also the first occasion on which Nelson distinguished himself as a commander; eight years thence both ship and man would achieve their immortality. We are grateful to Michael Naxton for preparing this catalogue note.

Framed 69 x 115cm The painting is executed in oil on a canvas support which has been lined. The canvas tension is stiff and the picture is in plane. The paint layers are stable and secure. There is a network os age cracks across the surface which are secure. The varnish is clear, even and semi-glossy. There are scattered areas of overpaint which are well matched to the original. The varnish has abraded around the edges and scuffs on the surface now appear white.