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Richard Ball Spencer (British, 1812-1897) The Battle of Cape St. Vincent image 1
Richard Ball Spencer (British, 1812-1897) The Battle of Cape St. Vincent image 2
Richard Ball Spencer (British, 1812-1897) The Battle of Cape St. Vincent image 3
Lot 98

Richard Ball Spencer
(British, 1812-1897)
The Battle of Cape St. Vincent

25 – 26 October 2022, 14:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £4,080 inc. premium

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Richard Ball Spencer (British, 1812-1897)

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent
signed 'R.B.SPENCER' (lower left)
oil on canvas
59.7 x 90.8cm (23 1/2 x 35 3/4in).

Footnotes

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'.

Additional information