Camperdown by Charles Dixon R.A

14 Charles Dixon’s watercolour ‘Camperdown’

Framed: Height: 42 ½ in (108cm) Width: 62 ½ in (159cm)

This large watercolour shows the action between the British and Dutch navies during the Battle of Camperdown on 11th October 1797. In its original giltwood frame, the reverse with a paper exhibition label from The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, 1909. Exhibited: The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, 1909. Priced £70. The Battle of Camperdown was a major naval action fought on 11 October 1797 between the British North Sea Fleet under Admiral Adam Duncan (see page 65) and a Batavian Navy fleet under Vice-Admiral Jan de Winter. The battle was the most significant action between British and Dutch forces during the French Revolutionary Wars and resulted in a complete victory for the Royal Navy which captured eleven Dutch ships without loss. Charles Dixon (1872-1934) was acclaimed as an outstanding early 20th century artist, especially in watercolour; first exhibiting at the Royal Academy at the age of 16. He was the son of the genre and history painter Alfred Dixon and he himself developed a taste for historical subjects, though always of naval interest. His most noted works were of famous battle scenes, views of the Port of London and estuary scenes with steam and sailing vessels. He drew illustrations for the Sphere, the Illustrated London News and the Graphic. In addition, he was a friend of Sir Thomas Lipton and went out with all five of Lipton’s “Shamrocks” to record the America’s Cup races off Sandy Hook. In 1908 Dixon’s battle picture of “The Glorious First of June” was exhibited at the Royal Academy to great acclaim which may have encouraged him to paint this related work.