D. Lerpiniere after Richard Paton
[The Battle of the Saints, 12 April 1782
– breaking the line.]
Hand tinted Late impression after Boydell engraving 1783, matted, glazed, mahogany and gilt liner frame
19 1/4 x 25 3/4 ( 48.9 x 65.4 cm. ) inc letters. Frame: 31 3/4 x 42 1/4"
Ref. BW2/ANN/ d.ando> LLN PRICE CODE C
To Lord Rodney, AdmL of the White, Lord Hood, Sir Francis Samuel Drake Bart Rear Admrl of the Blue, Sir Richard Affleck Bart. Commodore. The several Captains and Officers, This representation of His Majesty's fleet under their command breaking the line of the French fleet under the command of Admiral Count de Grasseon the 12 April 1782 which was followed by a glorious & decisive victory.
For this action off the Saintes (or Saints), a group of islands between Guadeloupe and Dominica in the West Indies, which forced the French and Spanish to abandon a planned invasion of Jamaica, the fleet received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament. English and French forces are tabulated to either side. The moment shown is that of around quarter past nine in the morning when Rodney broke through the French line of battle. At centre-left, his flagship ‘Formidable’, identifiable by her St. George’s cross at the main, is flanked by two further British three-deckers, most probably ‘Namur’, 90 guns, and ‘Duke’ 98 guns – the only other vessels that large in Rodney’s central squadron.
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