Lot 144AR
Derek George Montague Gardner(British, 1914-2007)'The Battle of Camperdown'
Amended
15 April 2014, 14:00 BST
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £12,500 inc. premium
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Derek George Montague Gardner (British, 1914-2007)
'The Battle of Camperdown'
signed 'Derek G.M Gardner' (lower left)
watercolour
36.5 x 53.1cm (14 3/8 x 20 7/8in).
signed 'Derek G.M Gardner' (lower left)
watercolour
36.5 x 53.1cm (14 3/8 x 20 7/8in).
Footnotes
PROVENANCE:
Purchased directly from the artist, circa 1970
The Battle of Camperdown, (October 11th 1797), fought between the English fleet under Admiral Adam Duncan and the Dutch under Admiral Jan de Winter, took place off the Dutch coastal village of Camperduin, and is regarded as the most significant English naval victory of the French Revolutionary War.
The English fleet had kept the Dutch bottled up in the Texel, but when Duncan was ordered to return to Yarmouth to re-supply, De Winter took the opportunity to break out and carry out a series of sorties in the North Sea and cruises to the East Anglian coast. Duncan had kept a number of scouts at sea however, and De Winter's movements were monitored so that as soon as practicable he left port and sailed towards Holland to intercept the Dutch fleet.
At 0830 the fleet were sighted 9 miles off the Dutch coast and Duncan signalled "prepare for battle" forming his battle lines. De Winter responded by setting his fleet in line, with the English approaching at right angles with the weather gauge. Worried that the Dutch might gain the shelter of the shore Duncan pressed on and his fleet broke into two groups, his Van led by HMS Monarch attacking the Dutch Rear, whilst the windward division attacked the Dutch Van and the Flagship Vriheid.
Overwhelmed by superior numbers and gunfire, the Dutch rear was shattered and had surrendered by 1345, the Monnikkerdam being taken by the frigate HMS Beaulieu.
More evenly matched, Duncan had a harder fight and was suffering badly at the front until the victorious ships from the Rear conflict joined the melee and eventually only the flagship was still engaged, De Winter doggedly fighting on, even though all three masts were shot away. Soon after 1500 Captain William Bligh closed on the Vriheid and asked De Winter to surrender. De Winter responded by trying to raise a signal, and then set about trying to repair a barge so he could transfer to another ship. Bligh responded by sending across a boarding party and De Winter was taken prisoner of war, the moment in the action which might be represented in the present lot.
The Battle secured the superiority of the English fleet with eleven enemy ships taken and the Dutch took no significant part in further hostilities during the War.
Saleroom notices
Artist's Resale Rights apply.