Battle of Camperdown

[anteros_lmc]

Today marks the anniversary of the Battle of Camperdown, fought in 1797 between a Royal Navy fleet under Admiral Adam Duncan and a Dutch fleet under Vice-Admiral Jan de Winter. It's an event that I know shamefully little about, however Duncan is famously remembered for refusing to take de Winter's sword on his surrender, saying "I would much rather take a brave man's hand than his sword". The famous scene was painted in glorious style by Samuel Drummond in 1827. Half-naked sailors, dashing lieutenants and admirals with shapely legs...what more could a AoS fangirl want?! Clicky through for glorious high res :)



There's also a rather more staid rendering of the same scene by Daniel Orme, but I know which version I prefer!

Comments

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Yay, so much interactions there! And speaking on half-naked sailors... "Ow! Man, go trumpeting somewhere else, will ya?!" *g*

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It's a great painting isn't it? The half-naked sailors definitely make it....

"Ow! Man, go trumpeting somewhere else, will ya?!"
Wonder what he's playing on the trumpet? ;)

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

The topless fellow on the right could be Archie. He seems to be draping a large embroidery over that cannon mount. Not sure why, but it makes more sense than the Horatio looking dude with the stick, on the left!

I think I need to closely inspect this painting-- there is so much going on.

I think it would make a really good caption contest someday. (people would have to indicate which sailor was speaking though.)

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Not sure what the shirtless individual is doing. He's either covering something, a body perhaps, or removing a downed sail or flag. I think the lieutenant on the left has a speaking trumpet in hand. He probably has just shouted orders aloft, or is about to do so.
Dave

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

He's either covering something, a body perhaps, or removing a downed sail or flag.
I wondered it if was the ship's colours. What do you think?

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Possibly. However I don't see any indications of color. I'm guessing that the Dutch had the same colors then as now, a horizontal red, white, and blue tri-color.
Dave

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I suspect you're right. It's a bit pale for colours, unless it's a standard of some kind?

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Possibly

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It's definitely a painting that requires close study... ;)

He seems to be draping a large embroidery over that cannon mount.
I wonder if the large embroidery is actually the ships colours?

I think it would make a really good caption contest someday.
Hehe! We'd need to use speech bubbles! :D

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

The bottom one is, I fear, more accurate.

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Nah. I bet it was much more like the top one. Beautiful chaos.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

The bottom picture looks terribly dour and presbyterian!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Hmm....I'm not so sure. Both admirals seem to have three arms for a start! XD

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Three armed Naval Presbyterians ought to be more interesting somehow...

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Indeed. It takes a special talent to render such a subject so unimaginatively. *nods*

[vespican.livejournal.com]

From what I understand, one of the new RN type 45 destroyers is named DUNCAN, no doubt for this very individual. From some of the comments I've seen on the Royal Navy Facebook page, I wonder if he and his accomplishments have been forgotten?
Dave

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It is indeed an HMS Duncan and she was built in Govan shipyard just down the road from where I used to live. My partner and daughter went to the launch in 2010 and I wrote a short post about it here

[vespican.livejournal.com]

I assumed correctly. Just wonder if Adm Duncan's fame has slipped a bit. A lot of comments a few months ago that seemed a bit down on the name.
Dave

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I think Duncan has suffered the same fate as ever other admiral who wasn't Nelson!

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

That first picture is rather splendid.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Isn't it just! Very energetic :)