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Description: | An interpretation of the surrender of the Dutch fleet following the Battle of Camperdown, 11 October 1797. This battle was fought in the wake of the Battle of St Vincent, 14 February 1797, and the Channel mutinies of May 1797. The mutinies led to a reduction in available British warships that was potentially disastrous. In accordance with the French plan to invade Ireland, the Dutch fleet under Vice-Admiral de Winter left the Texel to join up with the Brest fleet. Throughout 1797, Admiral Duncan had been watching the Dutch fleet in Den Helder. Early in October, Duncan took the fleet to Yarmouth to restore and refit. The Dutch immediately seized their opportunity to put to sea. The cutter 'Black Joke' was dispatched from the small lookout force to warn the Admiral. Duncan also put to sea immediately and early on the morning of 11 October the two fleets were in sight. The action began at 12.30 pm 18 miles of the coast and Duncan inspired his captains by leading his flagship, the 'Venerable', 74 guns, into battle.
This interpretation depicts Duncan standing on the quarter-deck of the 'Venerable', receiving the surrender of the Dutch Admiral de Winter. Duncan's portrait shows him full-length facing slightly to the right, in admiral's undress uniform, 1795-1812. He is positioned on the left side of the painting and with his right hand he ushers the Dutch admiral out of the picture and into the cabin. He holds his hat in his left hand and de Winter, wearing a greatcoat, approaches Duncan from the right of the picture. He holds his hat in his left hand and his sword, which he holds by the scabbard in his right hand, is being proffered to the British admiral. Other figures in the picture, left to right, are Mr Protins the pilot, Mr Burnet, Duncan's secretary; also Lieutenant Little, Lieutenant Kenton, Mr Hamilton of the cutter 'Active', 12 guns, Lieutenant Cleland, the first lieutenant of the 'Venerable', and Lieutenant Skinner with his head tied up in a spotted handkerchief. Between and behind Duncan and de Winter, left to right are, Lieutenant Oswald and Captain Sir William Fairfax. The latter is depicted full-length facing to left, in captain's (over three years) undress uniform, 1795-1812. He is wearing knee boots and carries his hat in his left hand, and with his right hand he is presenting de Winter to Duncan. Behind are Midshipman Thompson, Major Trollop RM, Mr Brown (a pilot), Mr Patterson, the Master, and Lieutenant Richardson of the 'Circe', 28 guns. Jack or John Crawford is descending the shrouds.
When Duncan's flag was shot away, Crawford, a sailor from the 'Venerable' took another up to the main top-gallant masthead and, in the absence of halliards, nailed it to the mast. He is depicted full-length, full face, and wearing a blue coat, red waistcoat and neutral coloured trousers. He is above the group on the 'Venerable's' quarterdeck. In his right hand he carries the marlin spike he used to nail Duncan's flag to the mast. To the right of de Winter at the break of the quarter-deck are, left to right, Midshipman Clarke, William Granville, a seaman, Mr Cresses, the boatswain, Robert Williams, boatswain's mate, Lieutenant O'Melly RM and van Bruggen, a marine. On the companionway below are Home, a sailor, with Somerset, a black seaman. In the right foreground is Peter Gaffney, a gunner. Behind these last two groups can be seen the bow of the 'Monarch', 74 guns, in port-broadside view. To the left of this and further off is a group of four ships, two being prizes. In the central background is the cutter 'Active', 12 guns, and the Dutch 'Hercules', 64 guns, which is on fire. In the left background are two more British ships with their prizes, the nearest being the 'Ardent', 64 guns, and the 'Dutch Alkmaar', 56 guns, together with the three masted lugger 'Speculator'.
The portraits of Duncan, Crawford and Fairfax were done in the months following Camperdown and from life sketches taken aboard the 'Venerable'. Orme was a portrait painter and engraver to George III, who often produced his own portraits as engravings.
caption: Duncan Receiving the Surrender of de Winter at the Battle of Camperdown, 11 October 1797 | Publisher: | "http://collections.rmg.co.uk/" | Rights holder: | "Royal Museums Greenwich" | Subjects: | Fairfax Jack Duncan Nelson Jan Willem de Adam William George Crawford paintings Holland Napoleon and his allies Winter | Source: | Royal Museums Greenwich | Identifier: | http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections... | Go to resource |
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