{"product_id":"22741","title":"\"First Blood: Captain Edward Pellew's HMS Nymphe defeats Cléopâtre in the first naval engagement of the French Revolutionary Wars, 18th June 1793\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOil on Linen Canvas\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e11 3\/4 x 15 3\/4 inches (30 x 40 cm)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSigned, lower right\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFramed in a fine gold frame with white wood slip\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWorld-wide exclusive - only available from Marine Artists\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEdward Pellew, born in Dover into a Cornish family, became one of the greatest British frigate captains. This exceptional painting by Maarten Platje shows Pellew’s 36-gun frigate HMS \u003ci\u003eNymphe\u003c\/i\u003e (originally French-built and captured by the British in 1780) taking on the formidable French frigate \u003ci\u003eCléopâtre\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis quick and very fierce action – the epitome perhaps of a dashing frigate fight and a British victory – was notable as making the reputation of Captain Pellew and provoking wild excitement and celebration in Britain because it was the first naval victory of the French war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the French Republic’s declaration of war against Britain in February 1793, two frigates were ordered to patrol from Falmouth to counter-act the actions of two French frigates, \u003ci\u003eCléopâtre \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eSémillante\u003c\/i\u003e, who were attacking British shipping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarly on the 18\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of June Pellew’s \u003ci\u003eNymphe\u003c\/i\u003e sighted \u003ci\u003eCléopâtre \u003c\/i\u003eabout twenty miles off the coast of Devon at Start Point and gave chase, soon overhauling the French ship whose captain, Jean Mullon, turned to give battle at about 6.15 a.m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth ships were more heavily armed than might have been expected; \u003ci\u003eNymphe\u003c\/i\u003e carried perhaps twelve 24-pounder carronades on her upper deck while \u003ci\u003eCléopâtre \u003c\/i\u003eis thought to have had forty guns of various calibres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very intense fight now commenced; around 7 a.m. \u003ci\u003eCléopâtre \u003c\/i\u003elost her mizzen mast and wheel – four successive helmsmen were killed at their post – and Mullon, her captain, was mortally wounded. \u003ci\u003eCléopâtre\u003c\/i\u003e, losing control, swung into \u003ci\u003eNymphe\u003c\/i\u003e and became entangled from which situation Pellew’s boarding parties stormed the ship and captured her.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen \u003ci style=\"color: rgb(32, 33, 34);\"\u003eNymphe\u003c\/i\u003e brought her prize into Portsmouth on the 20\u003csup style=\"color: rgb(32, 33, 34);\"\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e, she and Pellew were welcomed with intense celebrations. The first naval triumph of the war seized the public’s imagination and King George III, picking up the mood of the country, knighted Edward Pellew at St. James’s Palace on the 29\u003csup style=\"color: rgb(32, 33, 34);\"\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of June.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis painting is a study of a phase of the action, exploring options for a possible larger future painting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eT\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eo buy the original painting or reserve it \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003econtact \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eCharles Mayes\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ecm@marineartists.co.uk \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e+44(0)79 4179 8655\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe price includes professional shipping, delivery \u0026amp; insurance to any address world-wide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA larger photograph \/ full description available on request\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVAT does not apply\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MAARTEN PLATJE (Dutch, Contemporary)","offers":[{"title":"Framed Oil Painting, including free delivery worldwide","offer_id":55616629801302,"sku":"-22741","price":3950.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1048\/3050\/1206\/files\/Platje_20-_20Nymphe_20Cleopatre_20-_20JP_20-_20DSC_8365_20copy_20-_20large_20stamped_8e3851d1-3b23-4d29-93a6-75bc8a061cfb.jpg?v=1791279938","url":"https:\/\/marineartists.co.uk\/products\/22741","provider":"Marine Artists","version":"1.0","type":"link"}