Zeeslag waarbij de Engelse vloot de Fransen verslaat bij Quiberon 1761

Pierre Charles Canot made this print of a naval battle using engraving; we don't know the exact date but we know he was active in the 18th century. What does it tell us about the public role of art at this time? Well, look at how the image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references and historical associations. This is a depiction of a battle between the English and the French. As an artwork, it is a record of a historical event but it also demonstrates pride in British military power, both of which were important to British culture. Prints like these were a way of celebrating the institution of the British Navy. If we were to research this artwork further, we might look at the historical context of naval battles in the 18th century and the relationship between Britain and France. We might also study the prints market in Britain at the time. These would allow us to understand better how an artwork like this operated in its own time.