R. Pollard After N Pocock: Late 18th Century Aquatint of The Mermaid "Run Aground in Chase of the French Corvette Brutus"

A very fine and rare hand coloured aquatint of a naval engagement in the French Revolutionary wars, published 1798, by Robert Pollard (1755-1839) after a painting by Nicholas Pocock (1740-1821). The details are given in full on the engraving itself: "The situation of His Majesty's Ship The Mermaid on the 10th Oct 1795, at Requin on the Windward Coast of Grenada, run aground in Chase of the French Corvette Brutus, afterwards named The Warre by the Legislature of Grenada, for endeavouring to prevent the landing of Troops and Ammunition to the Aid of a most brutal & ferocious Enemy". The engraving is full of vigour and movement, with the battle taking place in ferocious storm conditions. Pocock was known for his many detailed paintings of naval battles. He was a seaman himself, being master of a merchant ship by age 26. He later turned to painting when his the American wars affected the transatlantic trade. He did extensive research for his paintings, interviewing eye witnesses for detailed accounts including weather conditions etc, so this image is probably has less artistic licence than is often the case! Pollard was a well known engraver who engraved many of Pocock's works. The piece has a dedication to Grenada by Henry Warre but his connection to the event shown is not known.