![The HENRI GRACE A DIEU, built in the reign of Henry 7th [1485-1509]: The SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, built 1637](/internal/media/dispatcher/173984/preview)
The HENRI GRACE A DIEU, built in the reign of Henry 7th [1485-1509]: The SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, built 1637
Author
Augustin Francis Bullock Creuze
(1800 - 1852)
Engraver
George Aikman
Editor
Professor Macvey Napier
(1776 - 1847)
Publisher
A & C Black Ltd
(founded 1807)
Printer
Thomas Allan & Co
Date1840
Object number00019696
NameEngraving
MediumPaper, ink
DimensionsOverall: 273 x 210 mm, 0.008 kg
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis engraving is one of 15 published in 'Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Naval Architecture: Being the Article 'Ship-Building' in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Seventh Edition' written by naval architect Augustin F B Creuze and published in 1840.
The engraving depicts two ships, first the HENRI GRACE À DIEU (from a drawing in the Pepysian Collection), and second the Royal Navy ship SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS built in 1637 (from a painting by Willem van de Velde the Younger). The images are referred to in the encyclopaedia in the contex of the ship's representation:
'There is a drawing extant in the Pepysian Library in Magdalen College, Cambridge, of the Henri Grace a Dieu, built by the order of Henry VII, which Charnock has engraved in his History of Marine Architecture, and argues as to the general authenticity of the representation. He says 'this vessel may be termed the parent of the British navy. This celebrated structure, the existence of which is recorded in many of the ancient chronicles, cost the king, by report, nearly 14,000 pounds' (p 12, 'Ship-Building', 1840).SignificanceThis engraving comes from the first edition of the separate book issue of Creuze's highly influential article on naval architecture.
