About this sheet
Original antique 19th-century hand-colored marine engraving depicting a dramatic naval engagement in the North Sea near Calais in 1696.
The engraving was made by William Skelton (1763–1848) after a painting by the celebrated French marine artist Baron Théodore Gudin (1802–1880).
The original French title printed beneath the image reads:
“Combat dans la Mer du Nord à Calais, 1696”
The scene depicts sailing warships engaged at close quarters in extremely rough seas. A damaged vessel is breaking apart in the foreground, with wreckage and sailors visible among the waves, while the principal warships exchange fire beneath a dark and turbulent sky.
The restrained original hand coloring adds considerable atmosphere, with blue-gray seas, golden rigging, colored flags and flashes of red standing out against the dark composition.
Théodore Gudin was one of the foremost French marine painters of the 19th century. Appointed an official Peintre de la Marine in 1830, he became renowned for dramatic naval battles, storms, shipwrecks and episodes from French maritime history.
The engraving belongs to the Galerie Historique de Versailles tradition established during the reign of Louis-Philippe, when Versailles was transformed into a museum celebrating the history of France. Gudin produced numerous important naval compositions for this ambitious historical project.
Title: Combat dans la Mer du Nord à Calais, 1696
Subject: Naval battle in the North Sea near Calais
Historical date depicted: 1696
Publication: Galerie Historique de Versailles
Style: Romantic / Maritime
Condition:
Good antique condition with overall age-related toning, scattered foxing and spotting. More noticeable staining and foxing are present in the margins, particularly along the lower margin and toward the upper portion of the sheet. Minor marks and handling traces are consistent with age. The engraved image remains strong and atmospheric, with 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.
A companion hand-colored engraving depicting the Chevalier de Saint-Pol fighting a Dutch squadron is also available separately.
