August 1795, Hand-Colored Copper-Plate Engraving "The Glorious First of June, 1794: Morning" by B.T. Pouncey, Published in London by Antonio Cesare de Poggi, issued in August 1795, following an exhibition of Robert Cleveley's (English, 1747-1809) original paintings earlier that year, Framed, Very Fine.
This impressive Naval Battle Engraving titled, "The Glorious First of June, 1794: Morning", was created by Benjamin Thomas Pouncy (also known as B.T. Pouncy or Pouncy) (English, 1750-1799) in 1795-1796. It is a large-scale engraved print based on a painting by the marine artist Robert Cleveley (English, 1747-1809). It depicts the commencement of the Battle of the Glorious First of June, the first major naval engagement between Great Britain and Revolutionary France. The "Morning" scene specifically shows British warships pursuing French vessels away from the principal battle lines as the general action begins, depicting a fleet of large ships on a vast ocean scaled by a vaster sky full of billowing clouds. Sculptor and other info lower left and lower right, titled lower center. Copies of this engraving are held in major maritime and art collections, including the British Museum and the Royal Museums Greenwich. This large dramatic engraving measures about 23 x 32 inches (588 x 812 mm) for the image area, being fully framed to about 32.5 x 40 inches. Unexamined out of its lightly worn frame. This engraving previously sold by Shreve, Crump & Low, Boston in 1978, with their letter to the buyer attached on its verso.


Artist Robert Cleveley is not known to have been at the Battle of the First of June. However, it is clear from Joseph Farington, the artist and diarist, that within two months of the battle, he was working on designs for engravings to be published by the publisher de Poggi the following year. He began his career as a sailor and was inspired by his surroundings to take up a career as a painter of maritime scenes, often with a contemporary, but now historical, theme including, for example, Nelson on St. Joseph and Triumph from Earl Howe.

The result was two very large pictures of which de Poggi opened an exhibition at his Bond Street gallery on 21 February 1795, promoting the sale of large subscription prints from them by B. T. Pouncy, issued in August 1795, and Thomas Medland, issued in February 1796. Cleveley exhibited his work between 1767 and 1806 at the Free Society and at The Royal Academy. Twelve of his water-colours are now held in the Kensington Museum and a further collection is exhibited in Manchester.

See: Van der Merwe 'The Glorious First of June: A Battle of Art and Theatre' in B. Duffy and R. Morriss 'The Glorious First of June 1794: a Naval Battle and its Aftermath'.