Philhellenic: London Colnaghi & Son, Pall Mall East January 18th 1828. Black & white lithograph Plate 4 from Reinagle's "Illustrations of the Battle of Navarin." Printed on india paper, mounted, verso blank. The plate focuses on the engagement between the Turkish & Egyptian Admirals and Vice Admiral Codrington on the Asia: "The time chosen for this subject is about an hour after the commencement of the action, when the Egyptian Admiral opened his fire on the Asia. By this time the Turkish Admiral's ship was reduced to a mere wreck, the carnage on board was so immense from the well directed fire of the Asia, that there were no less than 650 turks killed _ the Asia lost 19 killed, and 57 wounded. The Hind, tender to the Asia, the mast only of which is seen, unfortunately entangled her main boom in one of the stern portdsof Macharem Bey's ship. The Turks made strenuous efforts to board without success; the conduct of Lieut. Robb was perfectly heroic_ 4 killed, 8 wounded." Dark impression; some spotting within image ; margins cut short [5-10mm]. George Philip Reinagle RA 1802- 1835. Marine artist studied with his father Ramsey Reinagle RA. exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1822. The Battle Of Navarino was fought off the west coast of the Peloponnesus on October 20th 1827 and effectively ended Turkish resistance to Greek independence with the destruction of the Turkish-Egyptian fleet by the British- Russian- French fleet under Vice Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, hero of Trafalgar. Reinagle witnessed the battle form on board the HMS Mosquito and on his return to London produced the "Illustrations of the Battle of Navarino."published in 1828. The news of Navarino made Codrington a hero twice over in the eyes of the general British public. But in Whitehall, senior naval and diplomatic echelons were appalled by the outcome of his campaign. It was considered that Codrington had grossly exceeded his instructions by provoking a showdown with the Ottoman fleetInitially, official disapproval of Codrington had to be restrained because of the admiral's huge popularity with the public. The Admiralty's revenge took petty form, such as its refusal, despite repeated requests by Codrington, to pay his crews their traditional prize-money from the sale of captured Ottoman treasure and goods. Meanwhile, Wellington was biding his time until he felt it was politically safe to remove Codrington from the Mediterranean theatre. Finally, in June 1828, the Admiralty announced that Codrington was being relieved of his command (although he remained in acting-command until his replacement arrived in August). Although the King felt obliged by public opinion to grant Codrington the high honour of the Grand Cross of the Bath, the Admiralty's failure to give him another operational command in his remaining decade of service or to promote him to full Admiral until shortly before his retirement from the Navy in 1837, were eloquent testimony to his fall from favour. Blackmer/ Navari;1403 (Italian edition); Blackmer /Sotheby's: 942: Droulia :1591. Philhellenic Battle of Navarino The Asia
