File:The Grand Vizier's Tent - V&A SD.998-19 2008BU4791.jpg

`The Grand Vizier's Tent'. Stipple engraving in an album entitled `Picturesque Scenery in the Holy Land and Syria delineated during the Campaigns of 1799 & 1800', about 1800. Francis B.[? Brockhill] Spilsbury.

Numbered No 16 and inscribed on mount See Scott's Life of Napoleon B - Vol 4. Page 98. Text begins: On Sunday, June 22 nd.. 1800 - having obtained permission from Sir Sydney Smith, we went on shore at Jaffa, and, in the afternoon were introduced by our Commander to the Grand Vizier. This Drawing is illustrative of the Interview. [...] The principal participants were the Grand Vizier, Sir Sydney Smith, Lieutenant Boxer, Mr.Spurring and Mr.Spilsbury.

This print is in F. B. Spilsbury, Picturesque Scenery In The Holy Land And Syria, Delineated During the Campaigns Of 1799 and 1800, 1803, Plate 20, entitled The Grand Vizier's Tent. See Abbey (381) for description of the volume published 1803; plate numbers given follow the numbering in that copy. See also SP.564 for a second edition (1819). The lettering on each plate states that they are after drawings by Daniel Orme from Spilsbury's on-the-spot sketches. SD.998:1-19 are clearly not Spilsbury's first-hand sketches, but may be the drawings he prepared for the engravers, with the addition of three hand-coloured etchings/engraving. While they (including the etchings/engraving, if he was indeed the author of The Art of Etching and Aquatinting) may represent a further stage executed by Spilsbury himself, it is just possible that they comprise the set drawn by Daniel Orme for publication. Orme (c.1766-after 1832) was a portrait painter in oils and miniature and an engraver. He studied at the RA Schools and worked in London, exhibiting at the RA 1797?1801, until 1814. He was probably the brother of Edward and William Orme, also artists and engravers. (See DNB and Hardie, III, p.44.)

In 1799 Napoleon laid siege to Acre but in May was repulsed by the Turks with the aid of the British fleet commanded by Sir William Sidney Smith. Afterwards Spilsbury participated in various reconnoitering trips made by British officers into Syria and Palestine: see text of Picturesque Scenery ...

The Grand Vizier's Tent. The principle figure is that of the Vizier (Kör Yusuf Ziyaüddin Pasha), seen applying his seal to the firman which authorised the British to enter Jerusalem. (L to R) Sir Sidney Smith, Lieutenant Bower*, Mr Spurring and Mr Spilsbury 1799, during the Defence of the Ottoman Empire against General Bonaparte. Plate XV.

Note: The book mentions, in the credits, Lieutenant James Boxer RN, (HMS Tigre). Many references give Bower as Boxer. reference

JOURNAL OF A TOUR FROM JAFFA TO JERUSALEM; BY THE OFFICERS BELONGING TO HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP LE TIGRE. On Sunday, June 22nd, 1800, having obtained permission of Sir Sidney Smith, we went on shore at Jaffa, and in the afternoon were introduced by our commander to the Grand Vizier. The Plate No. XV. is illustrative of this interview. The principal figure is the Vizier, applying his seal to the firman which authorised us to proceed to Jerusalem. On the right is Sir Sidney Smith; next to him is Mr. Spurring; and, as a spectator, Mr. Spilsbury. In the foreground, on the left, are some of the great officers of the Vizier, with, as usual, the guard standing at the door of the tent. The officers are all represented as wearing mustachoes. This ceremony being over, the Grand Vizier immediately presented us with the necessary passports, &c. with an order for horses, and an appropriate guard to attend us on the succeeding morning.

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Keywords: D. Orme; Landscape; Francis. B. Spilsbury; Ottoman; War; Napoleon Bonaparte