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Notes
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On 19 May 1798, Napoleon sailed from Toulon on his hazardous adventure to Egypt, capturing Malta on the way. On 1 August, Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson sighted Alexandria, with its harbour full of shipping and saw French flags, although none belonged to ships of the line. The French battle fleet was subsequently sighted anchored in Aboukir Bay, 15 miles east of Alexandria, by the British ship 'Zealous', 74 guns. Nelson, in his flagship 'Vanguard', 74 guns, immediately headed there and launched an immediate, late-afternoon attack on the anchored enemy in what subsequently became a devastating night action. The painting shows the scene at 6.30pm, with the French fleet in starboard-quarter view, anchored and visible across the left half of the picture.
Whitcombe was born in London in about 1752 and painted ship portraits, battle scenes, harbour views and ships in storms. Although his output was vast, little is known about him. He produced a large number of subjects from the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793–1815.
Title
The Battle of the Nile, 1 August 1798: Beginning of the Action
Date
after 1798
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 121.9 x W 182.8 cm
Accession number
BHC0515
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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