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Notes
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Spithead is the sheet of water between the north-eastern shore of the Isle of Wight and the English mainland. It forms a deep, sheltered channel leading into Portsmouth Harbour and provides the main Naval anchorage outside the harbour for assembling fleets to sail, or for reviews. The 'Victory' is shown centre foreground under full sail. She flies the red ensign and the flag of Vice-Admiral of the Red, and the three-decker first-rate to the right is probably the 'Queen Charlotte'. It is not clear what event is being commemorated, but in the background the ships at anchor are arranged in lines, while in the foreground the ships under sail appear to be part of a procession. This may be an interpretation of the Royal Review of the Grand Fleet at Spithead on 1st July 1791, when 'The Times' records that 'the Duke of Gloucester preceded by Lord Hood in his barge went out to Spithead'.
The engraving of this picture was published as a large print under its exhibited title in August 1792. The same plate was reissued in January 1806 with a new title: 'His Majesty's Ship Victory under Sail from Portsmouth to the Downs with the Corpse of the Immortal Nelson', a good example of opportunist recycling of an earlier image to capitalize on a much later event.
Title
The 'Victory' Sailing from Spithead
Date
1791
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 85 x W 146 cm
Accession number
BHC3694
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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