Antique Sea Charts
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French-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c.1840
French-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c.1840, view 2

Close-ups

French-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c.1840, close-up 1French-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c.1840, close-up 2French-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c.1840, close-up 3French-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c.1840, close-up 4French-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c.1840, close-up 5

Framed and on the wall

French-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c.1840, shown framedFrench-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c.1840, shown framed on a wallFrench-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c.1840, shown framed in a room

Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the piece could look; it is sold unframed unless the description says otherwise.

French-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c.1840

€355

$400 · £300

Original print, not a reproduction.

Ships worldwide from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked. 14-day returns.

Date
1840
Sheet size
11.3 × 15.7 in (28.8 × 39.8 cm)
Condition
Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Good antique condition with overall age-related toning and scattered foxing and spotting, particularly throughout the broad margins. More noticeable foxing is present along the upper and right margins. Minor stains, marks and handling traces.
Collection
Ships & sea battles
Era
1790 to 1849, Age of sail
Stock no.
f_51482752

Title: French-British Naval Battle of Negapatam, India, c. 1840

Original antique hand-colored steel engraving depicting the Battle of Negapatam, fought off the coast of India on 6 July 1782.

The original French title reads: “Combat naval en vue de Negapatam, le 6 juillet 1782”

The engraving was made by Jean-Marie Chavanne after Théodore Dubois for the celebrated Galerie Historique de Versailles. The same composition is preserved in the Louvre's Chalcographie collection.

The Battle of Negapatam was fought between a French fleet commanded by Admiral Pierre André de Suffren and a British fleet under Admiral Sir Edward Hughes during the wider conflict of the American War of Independence. The battle took place off the Coromandel Coast of southern India and formed part of Suffren's important naval campaign in the Indian Ocean.

The engraving presents the opposing warships at close range beneath a dramatic sky, with smoke rising between the vessels and rough seas in the foreground. Delicate period hand coloring highlights the sails, flags, rigging and elaborately decorated ships.

Artist: Théodore Dubois

Engraver: Jean-Marie Chavanne

Original title: Combat naval en vue de Negapatam, le 6 juillet 1782

Technique: Original steel engraving with hand coloring

Subject: Battle of Negapatam / French-British naval battle

Historical date depicted: 6 July 1782

Location: Negapatam (Nagapattinam), India

Historical figures: Admiral Pierre André de Suffren and Admiral Sir Edward Hughes

Publication: Galerie Historique de Versailles

Origin: France

Date: circa 1840

Style: Romantic / Maritime

Condition:

Good antique condition with overall age-related toning and scattered foxing and spotting, particularly throughout the broad margins. More noticeable foxing is present along the upper and right margins. Minor stains, marks and handling traces are consistent with age. The engraved image remains attractive and retains its 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.

Keywords: Battle of Negapatam, Negapatam 1782, Nagapattinam, India, Coromandel Coast, Pierre André de Suffren, Admiral Suffren, Edward Hughes, British Navy, French Navy, Royal Navy, Indian Ocean, American War of Independence, Anglo-French naval battle, colonial India, maritime history, antique India print, naval engraving, Jean-Marie Chavanne, Théodore Dubois, Galerie Historique de Versailles, Romantic marine art, hand-colored engraving, original antique print, circa 1840