His Majesty's ship "Victory", Capt. E. Harvey, in the memorable battle of Trafalgar, between two French ships of the line thumbnail 1
His Majesty's ship "Victory", Capt. E. Harvey, in the memorable battle of Trafalgar, between two French ships of the line thumbnail 2
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His Majesty's ship "Victory", Capt. E. Harvey, in the memorable battle of Trafalgar, between two French ships of the line

Watercolour
1806 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This rare marine watercolour by Constable was exhibited at the Royal Academy annual exhibition in 1806. At this date it was topical both for its medium and subject. The year before, in 1805, the Society of Painters in Water-Colours held its ground-breaking first exhibition dedicated to displaying only watercolours. The same year Nelson defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar. Constable’s large watercolour of Nelson’s flagship Victory was intended to stand out at the Royal Academy exhibition.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleHis Majesty's ship "Victory", Capt. E. Harvey, in the memorable battle of Trafalgar, between two French ships of the line (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour and some graphite pencil, on paper
Brief description
John Constable (1776-1837), 'His Majesty's ship "Victory", Capt. E. Harvey, in the memorable battle of Trafalgar, between two French ships of the line', about 1806, watercolour
Physical description
Watercolour
Dimensions
  • Height: 42cm (Note: Taken from Lionel Lambourne, British Watercolours in the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1980)
  • Width: 58.4cm (Note: Taken from Lionel Lambourne, British Watercolours in the V&A, 1980)
  • Gilt frame height: 680mm (Note: FRAME)
  • Gilt frame width: 840cm (Note: FRAME)
Credit line
Given by Isabel Constable, daughter of the artist
Historical context
'Constable's only exhibit at the Royal Academy in 1806 was No. 65 [169-1888]. In June he was at East Bergholt, as is attested by Nos. 66 and 67 [224-1888 and 346-1888]. In the autumn he paid a visit of some two months to the Lake District and made many drawings, among them Nos. 72-94 [794-1888, 348-1888, 192-1888, 812-1888, 170-1888, 185-1888, 188-1888, 184-1888, 187-1888, 178-1888, 179-1888, 177-1888, 193-1888, 183-1888, 1256-1888, 596-1888, 181-1888, 182-1888, 1257-1888, 811-1888, 349-1888].

G Reynolds, 1973, p. 56
Subject depicted
Summary
This rare marine watercolour by Constable was exhibited at the Royal Academy annual exhibition in 1806. At this date it was topical both for its medium and subject. The year before, in 1805, the Society of Painters in Water-Colours held its ground-breaking first exhibition dedicated to displaying only watercolours. The same year Nelson defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar. Constable’s large watercolour of Nelson’s flagship Victory was intended to stand out at the Royal Academy exhibition.
Bibliographic reference
Catalogue of the Constable Collection, Graham Reynolds, Victoria and Albert Museum, London: HMSO, 1973, pp. 56-57.
Other number
65, plate 36 - Reynolds catalogue no.
Collection
Accession number
169-1888

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Record createdJuly 19, 2006
Record URL
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