Victors of the Nile (with 15 cameo portraits of naval officers) (proof) RMG PY5670, Robert Smirke, 1803

Victors of the nile (with 15 cameo portraits of naval officers) (proof) as nelson said after the battle of the nile in 1798, ‘victory is not a name strong enough for such a scene’. His captains are all commemorated in this celebratory engraving published five years later; shown in order of seniority: saumarez (orion), thomas troubridge (culloden), henry d'esterre darby (bellerophon), thomas louis (minotaur), john peyton (defence), alexander ball (alexander), samuel hood (zealous), davidge gould (audacious), thomas foley (goliath), george blagdon westcott (majestic), thomas thompson (leander), benjamin hallowell (swiftsure), ralph willet miller (theseus), and edward berry (vanguard). Note: not portrayed is thomas hardy (mutine), who was still a lieutenant at the time of the battle. Nelson was made baron nelson of the nile, and adopted the motto ‘palmam qui meruit ferat’ (let he who has earned it bear the palm). Victors of the nile (with 15 cameo portraits of naval officers) (proof). Date: 1803. Dimensions: Sheet: 763 x 532 mm. Collection: Fine art.