MARINE ARTISTS
London
historical marine art
Artist-Signed
Limited Edition Print on Canvas by
MAARTEN PLATJE
(Dutch, Contemporary)
The fifth and final image in Maarten Platje's monumental "The Hero" series, depicting HMS Victory and Nelson in the year 1805, shows a scene that is not often painted but which is full of emotion.
This wonderfully atmospheric artist-signed limited edition by Maarten Platje depicts the moment when the coffin of the great admiral Nelson finally left his famous flagship HMS Victory.
After the Battle of Trafalgar, in which Nelson was killed, the men of his flagship disobeyed direct orders to allow his body to be taken to England in the frigate Euryalus. The men, grieving the loss of their beloved admiral, believed there was a danger that the body might be captured from a mere frigate and that only their mighty ship could protect their hero properly. They demanded the right to bring their commander safely home in his own flagship.
HMS Victory had been very badly damaged in the battle and required repairs both in Gibraltar and Portsmouth on the journey back. Therefore it was not until just before Christmas that Victory sailed into the Medway River, to the east of London. Here Victory was met by the pretty little yacht Chatham, the official vessel of the Commissioner of Sheerness Dockyard Captain the Hon. George Grey. (Grey had served as joint Captain on Victory at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent).
Nelson’s extremely heavy coffin was loaded on to Chatham’s deck and transported up the Thames to Greenwich Hospital, the Vice Admiral’s huge flag from Victory flying at half-mast on the little yacht.
This scene is full of emotion and pride, in particular for the sailors of Victory who are saying farewell to their great commander, having fulfilled their duty and seen him safe home, and many of whom are seen lining the ship’s rigging. Maarten Platje has used the atmosphere of a misty and cold late afternoon in winter to evoke this poignant mood and emphasise the huge size of the great battle-damaged flagship Victory.
Artist-Signed & Numbered Limited Edition Print on Canvas
Edition of 100
Image size: 21 3/4 x 30 inches (55 x 76 cm)
Canvas prints have a 2 inch (5 cm) white border around the image
Free Insurance during delivery
This print is brand new - never sold or framed
Print supplied unframed, shipped rolled in a strong cardboard tube
Shipped world-wide by First-Class, Signed-For Royal Mail service
Image is strictly artist’s copyright - no
reproduction without permission
Buy-it-now price contains VAT @ 20%
Edition on paper and framed pictures (UK only) also
available – see options and larger photographs on our website
Marine
Artists are exclusive agents in Great Britain for the exciting Dutch marine
painter Maarten Platje. You may commission your own painting from Maarten
Platje through Marine Artists. Contact Charles Mayes for details.