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Notes
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An incident from the beginning of the French Revolutionary War, 1793–1801. The British ship ‘Venus’, commanded by Captain Jonathan Faulkner, sighted a strange sail at 3am when 120 miles south-west of Cape Finisterre. About 7am the ship put out blue colours and the ‘Venus’ answered by signalling a private code to which the other ship – the French frigate 'Semillante' – made no reply. The first shots were fired about 7.30am and then a close action from 8am to about 10am began. By this time the ‘Semillante’ was almost silenced, her captain and first lieutenant were killed and she had five feet of water in her hold. The ‘Venus’ was trying to close her to take possession when she bore away towards a ship that proved to be another French frigate. The sails, rigging and spars of the 'Venus' had taken the brunt of the enemy fire and were extremely cut up, making a further engagement inadvisable. Indeed, she was lucky to escape an encounter with a fresh opponent.
Title
Action between HMS 'Venus' and the 'Semillante', 27 May 1793
Date
late 18th C
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 88.3 x W 121.8 cm
Accession number
BHC0463
Work type
Painting
Signature/marks description
T Elliott Pinxt
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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Action between HMS 'Venus' and the 'Semillante', 27 May 1793 National Maritime Museum -
HMS 'Victory' Leaving Portsmouth Harbour National Trust for Scotland, Culzean Castle, Garden & Country Park -
British Man of War and Other Shipping in Portsmouth Harbour Hampshire Cultural Trust Headquarters, Winchester (Hampshire County Council’s Fine Art Collection)