The Hornet and Peacock
Description:
This image depicts a confrontation between an American and a British ship, each displaying their national flag. The flag of the British ship, on the left, is upside down. Both ships have tattered sails. The back of the British ship is sinking into the water, and two of its masts have been reduced to jagged stumps. In contrast, the American ship sits level on the water and retains its three masts; the only evident damage is some holes in its sails. The British are abandoning their ship in two row boats and are pulling towards the American ship.
Copyright:
Copyright 2009, Department of Special Collections, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Primary Works:
The American Naval and Patriotic Songster (Baltimore, 1831)
Accession Number:
PS595 H5 A4
Height (in centimeters):
6
Width (in centimeters):
10
Marks Description
In the bottom left corner: "Horton"Printing Context
This image was an illustration for The American Patriotic and Naval Songster (1831).Associated Events
This image illustrates a song written about a naval battle, an American victory, during the War of 1812.Associated Places
The introduction to The American Naval Songster (1831) was written by "Jolly Tom" in Marine Hospital, a hospital for disabled seamen near Norfolk, VA.Associated Texts
Images:Hail! Lawrence, hail! The god of war
Shall claim thee as his favourite son;
And fame, with thousand trumpets more
Shall spread the vict’ry thou hast won.
Live! Lawrence, live! The brave revere
The honoured name that cowards fear.
Lawrence! Thy country, now, shall know
Thy merit—as a seaman true;
While gratitude and pride shall go,
To greet thy officers and crew,
Memory, retentive to thy worth,
Shall hail the day that gave thee birth.
Mem’ry shall call thee oft to mind,
Shall bring thee to our anxious view,
With laurels, round thy temples twin’d,
Engag’d in signal vic’try new.
Dwelling with rapture on the sight,
We’ll lead thee victor through the fight.
The Englishman and coward Turk,
Have felt thy furious, vengeful wrath;
Though twice the number round thee lurk,
You’ll mark for each his destined path.
Each stubborn foe must know his fate,
And sink if he should strike too late.
Jersey beholds thee with a smile,
native of this pleasant state:
Thy name shall reach beyond the Nile,
Shall stand with others brave and great.
Shall stand for ever—History’s page,
Shall tell thee to a future age.
Subject
This engraving portrays a battle during the War of 1812. This battle, like others in which the Americans defeat the British at sea, was taken up as a subject by various American artists.Significance
The setting of this image ties it closely to Romantic aesthetics. The sinking British ship further emphasizes the immensity of sea and sky initially created by the low horizon. In contrast, the American vessel acts as the ordering element of the vast space surrounding it; its clear, level posture renders it compatible and even equal with the sublime immensity into which the British ship descends. The American ship has achieved this equality and independence by causing the British ship's surrender to the elemental sea: it has not only managed to safely coexist with the elements, but has, temporarily, harnessed their potentially sublime power. However, the visual indication that the American ship has received some damage—the holes in its sails—separates the vulnerability of human courage and success from the omnipotence of the elements. The damage implies that the ship has indeed gone through an intense battle, and that victory, far from being effortless, required skill and bravery. This is a consistent theme throughout the Songster: it is made clear that the Americans have to work hard for their victories, and that they take pride in the dedication and stamina of their work ethic. Consequently, the events related in the Songster often dwell on difficult battles courageously fought rather than on any sort of majestic, effortless superiority. The vulnerability of the Americans' success renders their victory uniquely human, and serves to privilege the effort and uncertainty of human triumph over the sublime, inevitable power of the impersonal elements.Bibliography
By courtesy of the Department of Special Collections, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison:Long Title
Without music; a few tunes indicated by title.Featured in Exhibit:
Artist Unknown
Image Date:
1831