Artwork

A Scene on board His Majesty's Ship Swiftsure. off Alexandria in Egypt - Sepr. 10th 1798

A Scene on board His Majesty's Ship Swiftsure. off Alexandria in Egypt - Sepr. 10th 1798 is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist Cooper Willyams. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

The artist drew this in 1798 off Alexandria, Egypt, while traveling on a British ship.

This sketch shows five men on a ship’s deck. Three sit on the floor in white robes, leaning on sticks or talking. One man stands, holding a bundle. The fourth man sits cross-legged, smiling. Behind them, ropes and ship parts fill the background.

The artist drew this in 1798 off Alexandria, Egypt, while traveling on a British ship. The loose, sketchy style feels quick and real.

Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this watercolor in person.

Overview

This 1798 watercolour by the Reverend Cooper Willyams records a moment on the deck of His Majesty’s Ship Swiftsure near Alexandria, Egypt. Executed in a loose, sketch‑like manner, the work captures a small group of five figures against the ship’s rigging and ropes, offering a brief visual record of naval life during a Mediterranean voyage.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centres on five men, three seated on the deck in white garments, one standing while holding a bundle, and another seated cross‑legged with a smile. Their relaxed postures and informal interaction suggest a casual encounter among crew or passengers, providing insight into the everyday human presence aboard a Royal Navy vessel in the late eighteenth century.

Technique & Style

Rendered in watercolour, the drawing employs a rapid, fluid application of pigment, emphasizing line and gesture over detailed modelling. The sketchy execution conveys immediacy, reflecting the artist’s on‑site observation and the practical constraints of working aboard a moving ship.

History & Provenance

Willyams later reproduced the image as an etching and aquatint for his 1802 volume *A Voyage up the Mediterranean in His Majesty’s Ship the Swiftsure*, where it appeared under the caption “Moors on board the Swiftsure.” The original watercolour entered the art market in February 1981, when it was sold at Christie’s for £40, as recorded by dealer Rodney Searight.

Context

The scene was created during the Swiftsure’s Mediterranean deployment in 1798, a period marked by British naval activity in the region following the French campaign in Egypt. Willyams, a clergyman and traveller, documented his observations in both visual and written form, contributing to contemporary British knowledge of the Eastern Mediterranean.