Victors of the Nile

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Robert Smirke was born in Wigton, Carlisle. He was brought to London by his father in 1766 and apprenticed to a coach painter named Bromley. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1772 and exhibited at the Academy from 1786 to 1800, in 1805 and in 1815. He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1791 and a full Royal Academician two years later. Smirke specialised in unusually small scale scenes from literary or theatrical subjects, and his works are often humorous. His radical and revolutionary opinions led George III to bar his appointment as Keeper of the Royal Academy in 1804. The artist died at the age of 92 at his home in Osnaburgh Terrace, near Regent's Park, London.
John George Landseer was born in Lincoln; the son of a jeweller. After moving to London, he was apprenticed to W. Byrne. His earliest work was for J. Farington’s ‘Views in the Lake Country’ (1784-88). He also produced plates for D. Hume’s ‘History of England’ (1792-93) and engraved P. J. de Loutherbourg’s Bible vignettes (1794). His children include engraver Thomas (1793/4-1880), painter Charles (1799/1800-1879), painter Sir Edwin (1802-1873) and miniaturists Jessica (1807-1880) and Emma (1809-1895). He campaigned for engravers to be full members of the Royal Academy, becoming an associate in 1806. He published his ‘Lectures on the Art of Engraving’ (1807) and two short-lived journals. From 1837 he was engraver to William IV. He died at 89.

People

Horatio, Viscount Nelson Nelson (1758 - 1805), James, 1st Baron de Saumarez Saumarez (1757 - 1836), Sir Thomas, 1st Baronet Troubridge (c.1758 - 1807), Henry D'Esterre Darby (1750 - 1823), Sir Thomas, 1st Baronet Louis (c.1758 - 1807), John Peyton ( - 1809), Sir John Alexander Ball (1756 - 1809), Sir Samuel, 1st Baronet Hood (1762 - 1814), Sir Davidge Gould (1758 - 1847), Sir Thomas Foley (1757 - 1833), George Blagden Westcott (c.1753 - 1798), Sir Charles, 1st Baronet Thompson (c.1740 - 1799), Sir Benjamin Hallowell Carew (1760 - 1834), Ralph Willett Miller (1762 - 1799), Sir Edward, Baronet Berry (1768 - 1831)

Places

Africa, North Africa, Egypt, Middle East

Subjects

trumpet, allegory & symbolism, group portrait, tree, palm, smoke, sea, naval officer, sphinx, winged victory, Battle of the Nile, ship

Materials & Techniques

engraving

Artist

Robert Smirke (1753 - 1845)
William Bromley (1769 - 1842)
John George Landseer (1769 - 1852)
William S Leney (1769 - 1831)

Title

Victors of the Nile

Date

published 1803

Medium

Engraving

Acquisition

Purchased from Colnaghi, June 1952

GAC number

1712