Geoff Hunt,
naval artist. Naval art prints of Admiral Nelsons naval frigates including
HMS Victory, HMS Vanguard, HMS Agamemnon and HMS Boreas by leading naval
artist Geoff Hunt.
Geoff Hunt is one of the leading marine
artists of his generation. After formal art school training, Geoff Hunt
worked in marine publishing where he acquired a love of marine history. A
member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists since 1989, and a Trustee
since 1992, he was responsible for the RSMA's book "A Celebration of
Marine Art" and "The Tall Ship in Art". His work hangs in
public and private collections around the world. There are 12 of his
paintings in the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth.
HMS Agamemnon by Geoff Hunt.
Nelsons first flagship leads the squadron, Mediterranean, 1796. Nelson flies his flag as a Commodore, commanding his first squadron. He had commanded the 64-gun battleship Agamemnon, the ship he referred to as his favourite, since 1793. Nelson was given a Commodores pennant in March 1796, making Agamemnon his first flagship. In April 1796, Nelson was operating in the Gulf of Genoa with the small squadron depicted in this beautiful print. Agamemnon is shown leading Meleager 32, Blanche 32, Diadem 64 and the now famous 16 gun brig-sloop Speedy. She was at the centre of events fighting at the Battle of Saintes, the Battle of Copenhagen and of course Trafalgar, the summit of her career.
Image size 18 inches x 15 inches (46cm x 38cm) Paper size 21.5 inches x 19.5 inches (55cm x 50cm)
Artist : Geoff Hunt
£10 Off!
Now : £85.00
Pickle by Geoff Hunt.
6-gun schooner. The schooner Pickle battles bravely through the waves, bearing to England the bitter-sweet news of Lord Nelsons death and the great victory at Trafalgar. Commanded by Lt. Lapenotiere, she arrived at Falmouth on the 4th November 1805 from where the Lieutenant brought the news to London by coach. For his efforts, Lapenotiere was promoted Master and Commander.
44-gun razee. HMS Indefatigable was an exceptionally powerful frigate, cut down from a 64-gun ship but still carrying 24-pounder cannon. On 13-14 January 1797 she encountered the 74-gun Droits de lHomme. After a running fight through the night in storm conditions the French battleship was wrecked on the Brittany coast.
Item Code : LA0003
HMS Indefatigable by Geoff Hunt. - Editions Available
First Rate 100-gun ship. The masterpiece of the great designer Sir Thomas Slade, Nelsons flagship was far from new at the Battle of Trafalgar, having begun building in 1759. Preserved in dry-dock at Portsmouth Royal Dockyard since 1922, and immaculately restored in recent years, Victory today appears as she was in 1805.
Fourth-rate 52-gun ship. By 1797 the fourth-rate was not considered fit for the line of battle, yet that is where H.M.S. Leander found herself, at the Battle of the Nile on 1st August. Here seen passing the grounded Culloden and the brig Mutine, Leander played a distinguished part in the ensuing night action.
The Spanish Flgship. First rate 136-gun ship. Built at Havana in 1769 as a 112-gun ship, re-armed in 1796 with about 136 guns to make her the worlds only
ship with four complete gundecks, this celebrated Spanish flagship fought at the battles of St. Vincent and Trafalgar. Several observers remarked on her red and white striped sides.
Item Code : LA0008
Santisima Trinidad by Geoff Hunt. - Editions Available
44-gun Heavy Frigate. The first of the American super-frigates, completed at Philadelphia in 1797 to designs by Joshua Humphreys, this powerful ship could carry over 50 guns. Under Stephen Decaturs command, she out-fought and captured the British frigate Macedonian on 25 October 1812.
Item Code : LA0012
USS United States by Geoff Hunt. - Editions Available
74-gun ship. Commodore Nelsons flagship at the Battle of St. Vincent in 1797, the highlight of this ships career (1784-1813) Nelsons orders resulted in Captain steering through the British line in order to engage the leading Spanish battleships, of which two of the largest surrendered to Nelson himself.
HMS Duke William - Coming Aboard a 98-Gun Ship at the Nore, 1793 by Geoff Hunt.
A cutter full of illegally press-ganged men draws alongside the huge bulk of HMS Duke William, a massively powerful British 98-gun warship. It is the start of what became known as the Napoleonic Wars and the battleship is to become home to the pressed men.
Item Code : LI0018
HMS Duke William - Coming Aboard a 98-Gun Ship at the Nore, 1793 by Geoff Hunt. - Editions Available
Agamemnon Opens Fire on the Ca Ira, 13th March 1795 by Geoff Hunt.
Like most Royal Navy officers of his time, Nelsons continuing career was subject to the vicissitudes of the Services operational needs. After paying off Boreas in 1787 Nelson spent five years on the beach in his native Norfolk. In the winter of 1792, it looked as though, at last, Revolutionary France would declare war on England. To Nelsons delight, his endless entreaties to the Admiralty finally bore fruit. On 7th January 1793 he was appointed to command HMS Agamemnon. Nelson looked forward to his new command with enthusiasm. He was 34 years old, mature, experienced, with 14 years seniority on the post list and he had spent much of the last five years thinking about naval tactics. If Nelson was in the prime of life then so also was Agamemnon. Built twelve years previously, of New Forest Oak, she was launched at Bucklers Hard on the river Beaulieu in Hampshire and was, unusually at that time, for the technique was then still quite new, copper-bottomed. In 1793 Agamemnon was, for her.........
14-gun Brig. Famous for her action against the vastly superior Gamo under Lord Cochranes command, Speedy had an extremely active career in the Mediterranean. Much of this involved shore raids and boat work, as suggested in this scene. Patrick OBrian based much of the story of Jack Aubreys beloved Sophie on the exploits of Speedy.
Victory Races Temeraire for the Enemy Line, Trafalgar 21st October 1805 by Geoff Hunt.
The morning of 21st October 1805 dawned clear, under a hazy sky, with a breeze from the west-north-west so light that the sea was scarcely ruffled. At ten to six on this beautiful autumn morning, Nelsons ships sighted the French and Spanish fleet against the dawn sky. The British ships, in line ahead, were sailing slowly north and rolling in a long Atlantic swell. There were 17,000 men in the British fleet and the vast majority were relieved, if apprehensive, that their long years of waiting were about to come to an end. With Nelson in command there was never the slightest doubt of victory, only of how extensive the victory might be. As soon as it was light enough for flags to be seen, Lord Nelson hoisted the first of his signals that morning: to prepare for battle, and then, in the words of the naval signal book, to bear up and sail large on the course set by the Admiral. The Victorys bow began to swing into the path of the rising sun and soon every ship in the English fleet was alte.........
Second-rate 98-gun ship. One of the most famous names in the Royal Navy, associated with both the epic action alongside H.M.S. Victory at Trafalgar and with Turners famous painting, Temeraire was launched at Chatham in 1798. In contrast to her later career, her first day under sail, seen here, was calm and peaceful.
The Treaty of Amiens in March 1802 brought a brief respite in the long war between France and England, one that Nelson was able to enjoy as a country gentleman in his newly acquired estate at Merton in the company of Emma Hamilton and her husband, Sir Wilham Hamilton. The renewal of the war in the spring of 1803 saw Nelson appointed to the Mediterranean Command, hoisting his flag in Victory on May 18th. It was a renewal of the war in more ways than one, not least in the different strengths England and France brought to the conflict. Except where overweening ambition had brought his downfall, Napoleon was entirely dominant on land while the Royal Navy commanded the sea. In the long run, Napoleon could only win the war by invading England but this could not succeed without, at the very least, local naval supremacy in the Channel and Napoleons maritime strategy was largely devoted to achieving this. By the same token British strategy was driven by the need to prevent it. Rather than put .........
Captured French ship, rated fifth-rate. Though credited with 34 guns, this very small frigate might be better described as a corvette. Originally the French lUnite, she was captured by HMS Inconstant in April 1796 and is here seen arriving at Ajaccio. Renamed HMS Surprise, she served until 1802 but is now best known for her subsequent fictional career in Patrick OBrians novels. The Surprise was made famous by the writings of Patrick OBrian, in his books on the adventures of Captain Aubrey and the surgeon Maturin, described by the world famous writer as his favourite ship. The fabulous frigate was constructed in Le Havre as LUnite in 1794. It was a 24-gun corvette, armed with 8lb long guns. The British captured her in April 1796 in the Mediterranean, and her name changed to the HMS Surprise. She was re-armed and classed as a 28-gun ship. She actually carried 24 32 lb carronades on her main deck, 8 32 lb carronades on her quarter deck, and 4 6 lb long guns on her foredeck. French fri.........
Nelsons long-considered plan for dealing with a numerically superior force involved breaking their line in two places with two squadrons, the spearheads of each squadron being his biggest ships. The two squadrons were to attack the enemy line at right-angles, relying on breaking through quickly and then turning to overwhelm separated sections of their fleet before the remainder could turn back to intervene. The situation at Trafalgar did indeed produce a superior enemy force, 33 French and Spanish battleships to Nelsons 27, and the stage was set for his plan to be implemented. One of the two British squadrons was to be spearheaded by the Royal Sovereign, the other by Victory herself, although he had other heavy ships which could have led the way. But Nelson had not foreseen the very light wind and the consequent agonisingly slow approach, slower than walking pace, on the actual day. Victory took an awful pounding before she ever arrived at the Franco-Spanish line.The mizzen topmast w.........
Vanguard in Heavy Weather off Toulon, 19th May 1798 by Geoff Hunt.
The seven months Nelson spent ashore after the disastrous Tenerife campaign which cost him an arm, were the happiest period of his marriage to Fanny. As she nursed him back to health they appeared to be living in domestic bliss, disturbed only by his annoyance at having missed the resounding victory at Camperdown on 11th October 1797. When he became fit for service Nelson was informed that the new 80gun ship Foudroyant which had been intended as his flagship was delayed in construction and instead he was to be given the 10-year-old Vanguard instead. A 74-gun ship of the line, Vanguard had been built in the Royal Dockyard at Deptford near London to the design of Sir Thomas Slade. The greatest naval architect of his age, Slades masterpiece was the Victory, and he introduced the 74-gun ship into British service. The French had been the first to build 2-decker 74s, a far more efficient design than the British 3-decker 80-gun ship. The 74 was also the smallest ship that could carry a batte.........
Fifth-rate 36-gun frigate. A standard design of the numerous Apollo class, Euryalus was Captain Blackwoods command during the Trafalgar campaign, where she constantly accompanied Nelsons flagship HMS Victory to repeat signals, and to keep the British fleet precisely informed of the location of the Franco-Spanish fleet.
The French Flagship. 80-gun ship. Where the British used 98-gun three-deckers, the French preferred 80-gun two-deckers, of which this is the most famous example. Bucentaure, seen here off Toulon, served as Vice-Admital Villeneuves flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Boreas in the West Indies March 1787 by Geoff Hunt.
On 18th March 1784, Nelson was extremely lucky to be appointed to command HMS Boreas. The previous September, the Treaty of Versailles had ended the American War of Independence and many naval officers anticipated an extended period on the beach. Perhaps through political influence, Nelson was singled out for the command of the 28-gun frigate Boreas which was destined for a commission in the West Indies. The frigate was the most glamorous warship type in the navy. Although not heavily gunned, it was fast enough to evade larger enemies. It was likely to be given an independent role, whilst ships of the line normally operated in fleets off the enemy coast. The frigate often fought singleship actions against enemy frigates and these were followed avidly by the press and public. Successful frigate captains had something of the image of top-scoring fighter pilots in the Second World War and a few achieved great fame and riches derived from prize money. The frigate was designed with an una.........
Victory on the Atlantic Chase by Geoff Hunt In January 1805, after years
of blockade, the French and Spanish fleets broke out as part of a
Napoleonic plan to control the English Channel and invade England.
The strategy included a diversionary attack on the West Indies.
Nelsons fleet dashed across the Atlantic in pursuit. The French
then fled back to their home ports chased by Nelson and the scene was
set for the Battle of Trafalgar - 21st October 1805.
Victory Races Temeraire for the Enemy Line, Trafalgar
21st October 1805 by Geoff Hunt The most significant battle in naval history took place at walking
pace, in light winds, with the great ships of the British and
Franco-Spanish fleets rolling slowly in the Atlantic swell.
Agamemnon Opens Fire on the Ca Ira, 13th March 1795 by
Geoff Hunt "She is the finest ship I ever sailed in" said Horatio
Nelson. Agamemnon's speed took her ahead of the British fleet on 13th
March 1795 to engage single-handed the vastly larger, but crippled, Ca Ira
which was supported by two other French ships of the line.
Boreas in the West Indies March 1787 by Geoff Hunt
An early command, the 28-gun frigate Boreas and her commission in the
West Indies, came close to ruining Nelson's career.
Vanguard in Heavy Weather off Toulon, 19th May 1798 by
Geoff Hunt vanguard, a 74-gun ship of the line, was to be Nelson's flagship at the
Battle of the Nile, his first great victory as an Admiral in command of a
major fleet.
HMS Artemis - 32 gun Frigate in the Great Southern Ocean
by Geoff Hunt A British frigate plunges through the waves, sails spread in fair
weather. She is typical of the frigates essential to the British Navy in
the late 18th Century, so many of which won battle honors against enormous
odds - as well as huge quantities of prize money.
HMS Duke William - Coming Aboard a 98-Gun Ship at the
Nore, 1793 by Geoff Hunt
Art and aviation have been like a brother and sister to me. We have grown up together, learned together and made our adult lives together. But you do not have to have an appreciation of aircraft to admire the graceful lines of a Spitfire or the functional simplicity of a Focke-Wulf 190. They are themselves a work of art and they cry out to be painted - not as machines of war and destruction, but as objects of beauty, born of necessity and function, yet given a life and iconic classicism beyond their original calling. My interest and love of art and aircraft was gifted to me by my father, a designer and aeronautical engineer of considerable repute. Denis Berryman C.Eng. FRAeS. He gave me his eyes, his passion, his dedication and his unwavering professionalism. I owe him everything. And I miss him terribly. A love of art and of beautiful and interesting things takes you on a journey. You discover new interests, new fascinations, and you want to paint them. You want to paint them in their environment, in their element. Whether it is an aeroplane, a warship, a racing car or a beautiful woman, their gift to an artist is the same: Their lines, their texture and the way that light and shadows give them form. These are the food and oxygen of an artist. Not the paint and the canvas. These are mere tools. The secret is in the passion and the perception...
New Dambusters Paintings, Prints and Drawings!
A brand new series of releases featuring the aircraft and airmen of the Dambusters Raid.
This superb new collection of aviation art shows may of the famous events of the raids, but also shows some of the lesser known aircraft and details - the bomber that was so low that the tallboy bomb was ripped from the aircraft by a high wave (above), or the below treetop route to the target taken by one of the bombers, or the trains that were shot up by the gunners of the Lancasters on their way to the dams.
