P. W. Tomkins after I. T. Serres

TO ADMIRAL SIR HYDE PARKER, Kt. COMMANDER IN CHIEF, Vice Admiral Lord Nelson and Rear Admiral Thomas Greaves, THE Captains, Officers, Seamen, Marines and Soldiers of the BRITISH FLEET, THIS PLATE representing THE ATTACK of the DANISH FLEET and BATTERIES off COPENHAGEN, the SECOND OF APRIL, 1801, Is dedicated with the greatest respect by their most Obedt. Hble. Servt. P. W. TOMKINS.

28 x 20 inches

This magnificent marine scape shows the height of the skirmish that was to lead to a momentous victory for Admiral Hyde Parker and the British Fleet against the Danish in April 1801. All the ships are named below the image with the British line to the fore and the Danish line disappearing in the smoke behind. At that time the Danish fleet had formed a blockade to prevent the British from entering the harbour of Copenhagen. The British, led by Hyde Parker and Nelson were determined to capture the Danish ships and thereby prevent them from falling into the hands of the French. The battle was considered to be Nelson's hardest fought campaign and he famously disobeyed Parker's orders to retreat by placing his telescope to his blind eye and thereby ignoring the signal. He was later rewarded for his valiant efforts by being made a Viscount! Peltro William Tomkins (1760-1840) was an accomplished etcher and aquatint engraver of primarily military, marine and decorative subjects after his contemporaries.