Thomas Buttersworth, Sen. (1768-1827?)
This lot is subject to Collection and Storage Char… Read more Born on the Isle of Wight on 5th May 1768, Thomas Buttersworth was an accomplished marine artist who began his career by enlisting in the Royal Navy in August 1795. His first ship was H.M.S. Caroline, a brand new frigate then fitting out at Deptford, and he joined her as an Able Seaman, a superior rate which clearly recognised his potential and perhaps some previous mercantile experience. Appointed a master-at-arms after only three months' service confirms the belief that he was destined for higher promotion and in 1800 he was made Midshipman, a far from usual progression from the lower deck. That same year however, he was invalided home from Minorca and his promising sea-going career seems to have been ended by this infirmity even though its precise nature is unrecorded. Obviously talented, the number of his extant paintings - oils as well as watercolours - dated between 1797 and 1800 suggests Buttersworth was producing a significant output whilst still in the naval service and his views of the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, 14th February 1797 and, more numerously, those involving the activities of the blockading squadron off Cadiz indicate that Buttersworth probably witnessed these events in person. Indeed, his own years in the fleet had given him such a vivid understanding of ships and sea warfare that it seems only logical that he decided to become a professional marine artist when the Royal Navy could no longer employ him. Despite his prolific output, he only exhibited one painting at the Royal Academy (the Ville de Paris off the Tagus, 1813) and likewise one at the British Institution (the Battle of Trafalgar, 1825), but it is generally accepted that his work was well-crafted and extremely popular with the public at large. It was thought that Thomas Buttersworth (Senior) died in London in November 1842 but modern research now indicates that he died some fifteen years earlier, probably in 1827, and the 1842 date in fact applied to his elder son Thomas, born 1807, also a marine painter though greatly overshadowed by his younger brother James Edward (1817-94). For further examples of paintings by Thomas Buttersworth, Sen. and Jun. and James Edward Buttersworth, please see lots 552, 553 and 585 in this sale.
Thomas Buttersworth, Sen. (1768-1827?)

'Nelson's patent bridge for boarding First Rates' at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, 14th February, 1797

Details
Thomas Buttersworth, Sen. (1768-1827?)
'Nelson's patent bridge for boarding First Rates' at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, 14th February, 1797
signed 'T. Buttersworth Senr' (lower right)
oil on canvas
25 x 30 in. (63.5 x 76.3 cm.)
Special notice
This lot is subject to Collection and Storage Charges. No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Despite 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.

Nelson, recently promoted Commodore and given his own, albeit small, squadron, was flying his flag in the 74-gun H.M.S. Captain when he rendezvoused with Jervis in advance of the major engagement the next day. On the morning of the battle, Jervis ordered his two columns of ships into a single line-of-battle but the procedure proved painfully slow and Nelson soon realized that, unless he broke formation, the bulk of the Spanish fleet was liable to get away and run for Cadiz. Without a moment's hesitation, he took H.M.S. Captain out of station closely followed by Collingwood in Excellent and Troubridge in Culloden, whereupon a furious action commenced at the head of the Spanish line. In the confusion, two enemy ships, the 80-gun San Nicolas and the 114-gun San Josef, collided with each other and Nelson seized his opportunity. Laying the already damaged Captain alongside the San Nicolas, he personally led the boarding party which, having captured her, crossed her decks and then took the even larger San Josef immediately afterwards. The men of the fleet dubbed the feat 'Nelson's patent bridge for boarding First Rates', an accolade which delighted Nelson and cemented his growing bond with Jervis. It was, without doubt, a triumph of dash and daring and although Nelson had technically broken his orders to achieve it, he emerged from the battle with his reputation made. Promotion to Rear-Admiral of the Blue and a Knighthood of the Bath followed swiftly, together with a recognition by the British public that they had discovered a new hero to win the War for them.

More from Maritime

View All
View All