ROME, CIRCA 1815

Details

AN ITALIAN MICROMOSAIC PLAQUE
ROME, CIRCA 1815
circular plaque depicting the Taking of Capri, with the inlaid inscription 'SPEDIZIONE DEI VIVERI A CAPRI 1808', translated as 'delivery of livelihoods to Capri 1808', within a gilt-metal scroll frame, the reverse of the frame with a dedication message on velvet
2¾ in. (70 mm.) diam.
The inscription on the reverse velvet backing reads 'LE TABLEAU MOSAIQUE REPRÉSENTE L'EXPÉDITION / DE MURAT DEVANT L'ISLE DE CAPRI EN 1808. / ETANT À DÉJEUNER, ON VINT LUI ANNONCER / QUE LES HABITANTS DE L'ISLE DE CAPRI / S'ÉTAIENT REVOLTÉS; IL DIT À SES OFFICIERS: / MESSIEURS, DÉPÉCHONS NOUS DE DÉJEUNER / NOUS IRONS PRENDRE LE CAFÉ A L'ISLE / DE CAPRI. / OFFERT AU G.RL BERTRAND PAR SON TRÉS HUMBLE / TRÉS RECONNAISSANT SER. / DUMONT DE KERMORSEVEN'
On the reverse is a handwritten inscription with the names of the donor, comte J. Philipe du Mont de Kermoserven, and the recipient, general Henri-Gratien Bertrand

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David McLachlan

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Lot Essay

The scene is a version of Odoardo Fischetti's painting The Taking of Capri depicting Joachim Murat directing the capture of Capri by Massa Lubrense. Completed in 1810 it now belongs to the collections of the Museum of the Charterhouse of St Martin in Naples. Capri was captured by Sir Sidney Smith's Marines and bluejackets in May 1806, and was garrisoned with Sir Hudson Lowe's battalion of Corsican Rangers and a Maltese battalion. In October, 1808, Murat, the newly appointed King Joachim of Naples, sent a force across the bay and induced Sir Hudson Lowe to evacuate the island after less than a fortnight's siege.

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