BHC2909

Receiving the surrender of the 'San Nicolas', 14 February 1797 Long Caption: At the Battle of St Vincent, 14 February 1797, Nelson, commanding the 'Captain', 74 guns, swiftly captured the Spanish 'San Nicolas', 80 guns, through the element of surprise. During this feat he met two or three Spanish officers already taken prisoner by his sailors, who handed him their swords. Although the surrender was quick, it was interrupted by firing from the 'San Josef', 112 guns, with whose mizzen starboard rigging a bow anchor of the 'San Nicolas' had become accidentally entangled. Nelson immediately led his men across into the 'San Josef' and took her as well, a capture which rapidly became celebrated (as Nelson himself reported) as 'Nelson's patent bridge for boarding first rates'. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Greenwich Hospital Collection Object: BHC2909 Artist: Richard Westall Date: 1806 Medium: oil on canvas Size: 867 mm x 711 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.