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William Barnett Spencer (British, 19th. Century) The Battle of Trafalgar, a set of four, comprising: each 48.2 x 78.8cm. (19 x 31in.), (4) image 1
William Barnett Spencer (British, 19th. Century) The Battle of Trafalgar, a set of four, comprising: each 48.2 x 78.8cm. (19 x 31in.), (4) image 2
William Barnett Spencer (British, 19th. Century) The Battle of Trafalgar, a set of four, comprising: each 48.2 x 78.8cm. (19 x 31in.), (4) image 3
William Barnett Spencer (British, 19th. Century) The Battle of Trafalgar, a set of four, comprising: each 48.2 x 78.8cm. (19 x 31in.), (4) image 4
Lot 163

William Barnett Spencer
(British, 19th. Century)
The Battle of Trafalgar, a set of four, comprising: each 48.2 x 78.8cm. (19 x 31in.), (4)

5 July 2005, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

£16,000 - £24,000

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William Barnett Spencer (British, 19th. Century)

The Battle of Trafalgar, a set of four, comprising: (i) The start of the Action, with “Victory” breaking the enemy line
(ii) “Victory” engaging the Spanish flagship “Santisima Trinidad” with her port guns and the French ‘74’ “Redoubtable” on her starboard side
(iii) The close of the Action; and
(iv) The storm after the battle – W.B. Spencer
one indistinctly signed 'W.B.Spencer' (lower left)
oil on canvas
each 48.2 x 78.8cm. (19 x 31in.), (4)

Footnotes

Clearly drawing his inspiration from the splendid trio of paintings by W.J. Huggins (see lot …. in this catalogue for full descriptions, notes and illustrations), numbers (i), (iii) and (iv) in this series of views by William B. Spencer are essentially taken directly from the Huggins’ originals, with only minor differences of style and content.

Number (ii) meanwhile presents an additional view showing “Victory” engaging the Spanish flagship “Santisima Trinidad” on her port side and the French “Redoubtable” with her starboard guns. An enigmatic interloper is a frigate named “Captain” however, shown sailing through the main action although seemingly taking no part in it. This appears to be an inexplicable error by the artist as not only was H.M.S. “Captain” a 74-gun 3rd rate rather than a frigate, but she took no part whatsoever in the battle of Trafalgar; even more curiously, another version of this work is known in commerce which also depicts the same frigate in a similar position.

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