Coëtlogon Captures Four Dutch Warships off Lisbon, 1839

Maritime · 19th century

Coëtlogon Captures Four Dutch Warships off Lisbon, 1839

€ 395

Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)

Date: 1839
Mapmaker / artist: Baron Théodore Gudin (1802–1880)
Publisher: France
Technique: Original steel engraving with hand coloring
Sheet size: 28.8 × 39.8 cm (11.3 × 15.7 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-14351-3

What the condition grades mean

Excellent: Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good: Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good: Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair: Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.

Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.

Condition

Wear consistent with age and use. Good antique condition with overall age-related toning, scattered foxing and spotting, particularly in the margins. Minor marks and handling traces are consistent with age. The engraved image remains strong and atmospheric.

About this sheet

Original antique hand-colored steel engraving depicting the French naval commander Alain Emmanuel de Coëtlogon capturing four Dutch vessels and sinking a fifth off Lisbon in May 1703.

The engraving was made by Jean-Marie Chavanne after a painting by the celebrated French marine artist Baron Théodore Gudin (1802–1880), for the Galerie Historique de Versailles. The Louvre records this composition in its Chalcographie collection as an engraving after Gudin. ([Louvre Graphique][1])

The original French title reads:

“M. de Coëtlogon prend quatre vaisseaux hollandais et en coule à fond un cinquième à la hauteur de Lisbonne.”

The scene commemorates a French naval victory during the War of the Spanish Succession. Coëtlogon commanded a small French squadron against Dutch vessels off the Portuguese coast, capturing four and sinking another. The historical event is dated to May 1703 in the Versailles and Louvre records.

The engraving is particularly atmospheric, showing the engagement beneath a crescent moon and dark, smoke-filled sky. Damaged and captured vessels occupy the center while small boats move through the turbulent water. Subtle original hand coloring highlights the flags, rigging and hulls.

Théodore Gudin was one of France’s foremost 19th-century marine painters and became an official Peintre de la Marine in 1830. His large historical naval compositions formed an important part of the Galerie Historique de Versailles.

Publisher / Series: Galerie Historique de Versailles

Subject: Coëtlogon capturing Dutch ships off Lisbon

Historical event: May 1703

Publication date: 1839

Style: Romantic / Maritime

Condition:
Good antique condition with overall age-related toning, scattered foxing and spotting, particularly in the margins. Minor marks and handling traces are consistent with age. The engraved image remains strong and atmospheric and retains attractive period hand coloring. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the condition description.

Please note: This is an original antique 19th-century hand-colored engraving, not a modern reproduction. The print is sold unframed. Framed images or interior views, if shown, are for presentation and inspiration only.