
Polly Cornthwaite
Senior Cataloguer



Sold for £4,080 inc. premium
Our Marine Pictures & Works of Art specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialist
Senior Cataloguer

Head of Sale
The present lot depicts the most memorable time of the action when the then Commodore Sir Horatio Nelson in HMS Captain (74) engaged the Spanish 1st Rate San Nicolas (80) and carried her by boarding. Meanwhile, San Josef, which had already been badly damaged, became entangled with the San Nicolas and Nelson found himself being fired on from the deck of the enemy ship. It was a case of carrying on or retiring, so he carried on and took San Nicolas as well. This gave rise to the expression 'Nelson's patent bridge for taking First Rates'.