Battle of Grand Port | Pierre Julien Gilbert | 19th Century

This dramatic oil on canvas by Pierre Julien depicts the aftermath of the Battle of Grand Port (1810), one of the rare French naval victories over the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. From left to right, the composition shows HMS Iphigenia striking her colours (an event that in fact occurred the following day), HMS Magicienne and HMS Sirius being scuttled by fire, and HMS Nereide already surrendered in the foreground. Opposite them lie the victorious French frigates Bellone and Minerve, with Victor and Ceylon visible in the background. Julien’s luminous sky and carefully staged arrangement transform the chaotic end of the battle into a grand, almost theatrical record of French triumph in the waters of Mauritius.

The Battle of Grand Port (20–27 August 1810) was a significant naval engagement of the Mauritius campaign (1809–1811) during the Napoleonic Wars and stands out as one of the few clear French naval victories over the Royal Navy in this period. Fought in the sheltered harbor of Grand Port on the southeast coast of Île de France (modern Mauritius), the battle saw a British squadron attempt to seize control of the strategically vital anchorage and cut French privateering operations in the Indian Ocean. Through a combination of skilful maneuvering, local knowledge of the dangerous reefs, and determined resistance, the French under Commodore Guy-Victor Duperré managed to trap and defeat the British ships, capturing or destroying four frigates. Although tactically a French triumph and celebrated as such in France—one of the only naval victories inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe—the success was short-lived, as the British soon regrouped and went on to capture Mauritius later in 1810, securing their dominance in the region.

Frame:

Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age.

All framed prints feature our premium fine art paper. This is a museum-quality paper which reproduces photography and artworks with exceptional tonality and renders sharp details with consistent flatness and accuracy.

Print: 

For the matted / mounted prints we use a thick 1.4mm window mount cut from premium, textured mountboard. All mounts are "conservation grade", FSC certified, 100% acid free, and will not discolour or fade with age.

• Simple, elegant design
• Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface
• Handmade by specialist picture framers
• FSC certified off-white mat / window mount
• Delivered ready for hanging