"The Battle of Copenhagen; 1801"

Fine Limited Edition Print in three Editions

Paper or Canvas, each Edition 195

1. Paper: Image 18 x 30 inches (45.5 x 76 cm)

2. Canvas: Image 24 x 40 inches (61 x 101.5 cm) 

3. Large Canvas: Image 40 x 66 inches (101.5 x 167.5 cm) 

Each print is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Artist

Although Admiral Sir Hyde Parker was in command of the British fleet when the battle was fought on the 2nd of April 1801, it will always be associated with Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson.

The battle was the culmination of a British expedition to destroy the League of Armed Neutrality which had been formed by Denmark, Sweden. Prussia and Russia. Their aims were to trade with France and this was contrary to British interests in her war with France.

The British fleet arrived off a heavily-fortified Copenhagen, where the Danish-Norwegian fleet was anchored. It was necessary to take action before the Russian fleet could leave its ice-bound ports and reinforce the Danes and Admiral Parker gave Nelson command of a force of twelve ships of the line, and other, smaller ships, consisting of the vessels with the shallowest drafts.With these, Nelson was to attack along the shallow King's Channel in front of Copenhagen and Nelson transferred his flag from the 98-gun St. George to the shallower 74-gun HMSElephant to lead the attack.

The battle, which commenced around 10 a.m., developed into a brutal slogging match between the British ships and the heavy guns of the Danish fixed and floating batteries and the guns of their ships, which were gallantly fought. A truce in late afternoon ended the day with the British objective achieved; some feel that it was a relief to the British fleet which had had several ships run aground or disabled by the Danish guns.

Of course, the battle is best remembered for Nelson turning his blind eye to Admiral Parker's signal to withdraw, which was given around 1.30 when the battle was raging and Parker could see little of its progress through the gun smoke.

It is thought that Parker maintained he gave the recall signal only to give Nelson the excuse to withdraw if things were going badly (Nelson could not have withdrawn without orders), making the assumption that Nelson would ignore the signal and continue the action if he was able to. Whatever the motive - and some British ships did obey the signal and withdraw - Parker's reputation was irreparably damaged after Copenhagen, although he received some faint praise from Nelson, who succeeded him in command.