|
||
|
|
|
|
War of the First Coalition -- Capture of La Résistance and La Constance
This hand-colored aquatint commemorates the dramatic capture of the French frigates La Résistance and La Constance by the British frigates St. Fiorenzo and La Nymphe on March 9, 1797, near Brest during the French Revolutionary Wars (1792–1802). The work is after Nicholas Pocock, a celebrated maritime artist, and vividly portrays the moment of British naval dominance in the engagement.
The scene depicts the British frigates engaging their French counterparts in a coordinated and precise attack. The St. Fiorenzo, commanded by Sir Harry Neale, and the La Nymphe, under Captain John Cooke, pursued and engaged the enemy vessels after spotting them near the harbor of Brest. Both French ships, returning from their unsuccessful landing at Fishguard, Wales, were forced to surrender after a brief but intense exchange of fire. The caption below the image recounts the tactical maneuvers, noting how the British ships secured the weather gage before closing in to engage at a distance of approximately 40 yards. The larger French frigate La Résistance surrendered first, followed shortly by the smaller La Constance.
The engraving also provides detailed information about the casualties and armaments of the involved ships. La Résistance was armed with 48 guns, including 18-pounders, and manned by 345 crew, suffering 10 killed and 9 wounded. La Constance, equipped with 24 9-pounder guns and a crew of 181, lost 8 killed and 6 wounded. Remarkably, neither British vessel sustained damage or casualties during the engagement.
This event resulted in both captured French ships entering service in the Royal Navy. La Résistance was renamed HMS Fisgard, and La Constance retained her name. The action was celebrated for its precision and effectiveness, with survivors later awarded the Naval General Service Medal with the clasp "San Fiorenzo 8 March 1797" in 1847.
The print, inscribed to the officers, seamen, and marines who participated in the battle, serves as both a tribute to their skill and a record of a significant moment in British naval history. The rich detail of Pocock's work captures the intensity of the engagement, with dramatic skies and turbulent seas enhancing the composition’s emotional impact.
![Vaisseau du Premier Rang avec ses Mats et Vergues, et quelques uns des principaux Cordages [Ship of the Line with her Masts and Yards, and Several Principal Riggins]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/88591.jpg)
![[USS Powhatan Carrying the First Japanese Embassy to America.]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/55550.jpg)
