Baston's Sovereign go to baston 1 Mention is made on the first of these Baston pages that Horace Walpole, Lord Orford, in his Catalogue of Engravers, 1798, p.106, remarks that: "Michael Vandergutch … sometimes did other things, as a large print of the royal navy, on a sheet and a half, designed by one Baston." It is remarkable that Horace deigns to mention one Baston. Since Michael van der Gucht died in 1725 he must have collaborated with Baston in hailing George at least a year or so before: perhaps not long after the Hanoverian Accession in 1714. The Barfleur, below, would have been after 1725, and probably before Robert Walpole had replaced Berkeley with Lord Torrington. The composition of the ship views is broadly similar, but the ships are obviously different. Someone may be able to identify the stern in the engraving at right. The Running Horse is very clear. Is it the Royal Sovereign? The Barfleur It might be thought that Baston's designs did not vary greatly. However, a ship was identified by her elaborate carvings, so it is inevitable that these sterns would be displayed in this manner. Why is van de Velde persistently credited with inventing this type of view? He was merely working in the established convention. go to baston 1 back to prints, prints, prints © Charles Harrison Wallace 2005
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Baston Inven. MvdGucht Sculp. 
It looks as though the Royal Sovereign is intended. The ensign, left, is anachronistic.
van de Velde: the Royal Sovereign (colour) & the Britannia
Dedicated to George Byng
Knight of the Bath
post 1725
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