Who painted Map of the Battle of Sinope?

Map of the Battle of Sinope was painted by Charles Meryon in 1853.

Where can I see Map of the Battle of Sinope?

Map of the Battle of Sinope is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Map of the Battle of Sinope?

Map of the Battle of Sinope is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Map of the Battle of Sinope

Charles Meryon , 1853

Map of the Battle of Sinope is a print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1853 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created in 1853, the hand‑drawn map records the naval engagement at Sinope, where Russian forces overcame the Ottoman fleet.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1853, the hand‑drawn map records the naval engagement at Sinope, where Russian forces overcame the Ottoman fleet. The work combines cartographic detail with illustrative annotation, presenting the positions and fates of individual vessels across a stylised coastal setting.

Subject & Meaning

The map functions as a visual narrative of the battle, marking each ship’s movement and indicating where vessels were damaged or sunk. French captions accompany the graphics, guiding the viewer through the sequence of combat and highlighting the strategic significance of the harbor and nearby town.

Technique & Style

Executed in pen and ink with limited use of color, the piece relies on simple black symbols for wrecks and brown shapes for ships. Light pencil lines sketch the shoreline, while the overall composition reflects the artist’s preference for clear, graphic representation over decorative detail.

History & Provenance

The work was produced by Charles Meryon, a French etcher noted for his stark, Gothic‑tinged visions of urban scenes. Though primarily an etcher, Meryon turned to monochrome drawing for this map, partly due to his color‑blindness. The piece is presently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Context

The Battle of Sinope, fought in November 1853, marked a decisive Russian victory early in the Crimean War. Meryon’s map captures the event shortly after it occurred, providing contemporary visual documentation of a conflict that reshaped naval power in the Black Sea region.

Artist & collection

Artist

Charles Meryon

Charles Meryon (sometimes Méryon, 23 November 1821 – 14 February 1868) was a French artist who worked almost entirely in etching, as he had colour blindness.