A Battle Scene

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Nicholas Pocock was born in Bristol; the son of a merchant. He went to sea at a young age and commanded ships belonging to Richard Champion, the first producer of Bristol porcelain. In 1780 he sent a picture to the Royal Academy too late to be included in the exhibition. Two years later, two landscapes and two marine paintings by Pocock were accepted by the Academy and thereafter he exhibited there every year until 1812. In 1789 Pocock moved to London, where he quickly won popularity with naval clients, recording their actions at sea. He briefly returned to sea with the Fleet in 1794. From then, Pocock found employment recording actions of the French Wars. He also produced six paintings illustrating ‘The Life of Nelson’ (published in 1809).

Places

Subjects

sea, cannon, unnamed naval battle, Man o'War

Materials & Techniques

paper (as artists material), watercolour (as artists materials), watercolour (as object name)

Artist

Nicholas Pocock (1740 - 1821)

Title

A Battle Scene

Date

1796

Medium

Watercolour on paper

Dimensions

height: 41.80 cm, width: 67.10 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Sir Bruce Ingram, 15 May 1952

Inscription

br: N Pocock 1796

Provenance

Collection of journalist and newspaper editor Sir Bruce Stirling Ingram (1877-1963) and on loan to the Ministry of Works from 1952; from whom purchased by the Ministry of Works in 1963

GAC number

1615