Lot Essay
In 1798 Napoleon succeeded in dominating the Mediterranean and invaded Egypt with a large army whose eventual task was to destroy the British in India. The French fleet under Admiral Brueys played a key role in this campaign. Nelson had been searching around the Mediterranean for the French fleet when, on August 1st, the Zealous sighted French masts in Aboukir Bay.
The French were anchored in a line with shallow water ahead of the lead ship Le Guerrier. Many of the French sailors were ashore and the shore facing guns of their ships were left unloaded. Brueys probably thought that Nelson would attack the next day, and then only from the sea side. Instead, the battle began at sunset with the British attacking in two columns, one passing through the shallows around Le Guerrier and down the landward side, the other down the sea side.
In this painting, Nelson's Vanguard is seen attacking Le Spartiate (centre) with Theseus attacking from the shore side. In the subsequent action Le Spartiate was completely dismasted and Nelson wounded above his blind eye. To the left Minotaur is engaging Aquilon. From left to right the remaining ships are Goliath, Le Conquerant, Zealous, Le Guerrier and, off right, Audacious. Through the gap can be seen the fort and harbour of Aboukir.
The battle raged through the night but by dawn the French had lost nearly all their ships. This left Napoleon and his army isolated in Egypt. Thus the British victory at the Nile removed the threat of Eastern conquest, curtailed Napoleon's strategy and changed the course of history.
The painting was executed in consultation with the Royal Naval Museum to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle. It has been reproduced as a print, copies of which are for sale in aid of funds for Nelson's flagship Victory, and Christie's are grateful to the artist for the above notes to accompany his picture.
The French were anchored in a line with shallow water ahead of the lead ship Le Guerrier. Many of the French sailors were ashore and the shore facing guns of their ships were left unloaded. Brueys probably thought that Nelson would attack the next day, and then only from the sea side. Instead, the battle began at sunset with the British attacking in two columns, one passing through the shallows around Le Guerrier and down the landward side, the other down the sea side.
In this painting, Nelson's Vanguard is seen attacking Le Spartiate (centre) with Theseus attacking from the shore side. In the subsequent action Le Spartiate was completely dismasted and Nelson wounded above his blind eye. To the left Minotaur is engaging Aquilon. From left to right the remaining ships are Goliath, Le Conquerant, Zealous, Le Guerrier and, off right, Audacious. Through the gap can be seen the fort and harbour of Aboukir.
The battle raged through the night but by dawn the French had lost nearly all their ships. This left Napoleon and his army isolated in Egypt. Thus the British victory at the Nile removed the threat of Eastern conquest, curtailed Napoleon's strategy and changed the course of history.
The painting was executed in consultation with the Royal Naval Museum to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle. It has been reproduced as a print, copies of which are for sale in aid of funds for Nelson's flagship Victory, and Christie's are grateful to the artist for the above notes to accompany his picture.