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C1817
Capture of the Island of Banda, Aug. 9th 1810
Artist:
Thomas Whitcombe (1752 - 1824)
Rare and important aquatint of the capture of the Island of Banda from Dutch control by the British in 1810. At the time Banda was the only known source of nutmeg and mace in the world. Before the Dutch retook … Read Full Description
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Details
Full Title:
Capture of the Island of Banda, Aug. 9th 1810
Date:
C1817
Artist:
Thomas Whitcombe (1752 - 1824)
Engraver:
T. Sutherland
Condition:
In good condition.
Technique:
Aquatint with original hand colouring.
Image Size:
265mm
x 170mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1817
Description:
Rare and important aquatint of the capture of the Island of Banda from Dutch control by the British in 1810. At the time Banda was the only known source of nutmeg and mace in the world. Before the Dutch retook control of the islands, the British had removed many nutmeg trees and transplanted them to Ceylon and other British colonies. This effectively destroyed the monopoly of Banda Islands to the Dutch and as consequence the price for the spice also dropped dramatically.
HISTORY:
In 1810, the Kingdom of Holland was a vassal of Napoleonic France and hence in conflict with Britain. The French and British were each seeking to control lucrative Indian Ocean trade routes. On 10 May 1810, a squadron consisting of the 36-gun frigate HMS Caroline, formerly French frigate HMS Piedmontaise, 18-gun sloop HMS Barracouta, and the 12-gun transport HMS Mandarin left Madras with money, supplies and troops to support the garrison at Amboyna, recently captured from the Dutch. The frigates and sloop carried a hundred officers and men of the Madras European Regiment, while the Mandarin carried supplies. The squadron was commanded by Captain Christopher Cole, with Captain Charles Foote on the Piedmontaise and Captain Richard Kenah aboard the Barracouta. After departing from Madras, Cole informed Foote and Kenah of Cole’s plan to capture the Bandas; Foote and Kenah agreed. In Singapore, Captain Spencer informed Cole that over 700 regular Dutch troops may be located in the Bandas.[34][35] The squadron took a circuitous route to avoid alerting the Dutch. On 9 August 1810, the British appeared at Banda Neira. They quickly stormed the island and attacked Belgica Castle at sunrise. The battle was over within hours, with the Dutch surrendering Fort Nassau – after some subterfuge – and within days the remainder of the Banda Islands. After the Dutch surrender, Captain Charles Foote (of the Piedmontaise) was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the Banda Islands. This action was a prelude to Britain’s invasion of Java in 1811
Biography:
Thomas Whitcombe (1763-1824)
Whitcombe was a prominent British maritime painter of the Napoleonic Wars. Among his work are over 150 actions of the Royal Navy, and he exhibited at the Royal Academy, the British Institution and the Royal Society of British Artists.
