F9323-001

Contemporary full hull model of the 'L’Éole' (1789), a French 74-gun two-decker ship of the line Long Caption: Scale: 1:60, model is decked and equipped. 'L’Éole' was typical of the large 74s built by the French towards the end of the 1790s. Measuring 182 feet (55.5m) along the gun deck by 48 feet (14.6m) in the beam, it had a displacement of 1900 tons and carried 28 guns on the gun deck and 30 on the upper deck. Under the overall command of Villaret-Joyeuse, 'L’Éole' took part in the Battle of the Glorious First of June in 1794. In 1805–06, 'L’Éole' was in Vice-Admiral Willaumez’s squadron in the West Indies. Under the command of Captain Louis Gilles, 'L’Éole', with the 'Patriote', made for the safety of the Chesapeake Bay during a storm. Arriving damaged and dismasted, they were blockaded there later by some British ships detached from the Halifax Station. 'L’Éole' never left the bay and was eventually broken up. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: SLR0556 Artist: unknown Date: circa 1789 Medium: fruitwood; bone; brass; paint; varnish Size: Overall model: 255 mm x 968 mm x 235 mm; mirrored base: 192 mm x 1087 mm x 303 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.