19th Century Engraving Featuring Nelson -"The Cockpit- Battle of the Nile" 1817

A fine aquatint engraving, featuring Horatio Nelson, wounded at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. The Battle of the Nile (or Battle of Aboukir Bay) was a major naval victory for Britain in the Napoleonic wars, in which a large fleet of Napoleon's ships were destroyed. Nelson lost his eye in this battle and is shown with his head bandaged, surrounded by other wounded soldiers. Engraved by M Dubourg after a drawing by William Heath (1794-1840), who was well known for his military engravings, although he later turned to political satire. Originally published as part of a volume of 40 engravings by Edward Orme with the amazingly long title "Historic, Military and Naval Anecdotes of Personal Valour, Bravery and Particular Incidents which Occurred to the Armies of Great Britain and Her Allies, in the Last Long-Contested War, Terminating in the Battle of Waterloo".