During the Napoleonic Wars, a press gang on patrol in the streets of a British port town kept a keen eye out for seamen on leave from merchant vessels or from naval vessels laid up or out of service.
Here, a sailor recently released and still in 'shore-going-rig' is easily distinguishable and if not registered on a warship's books, will be seized in this officially sanctioned form of kidnapping.
The protests of the sailors family would be fruitless, a press gang gave no consideration to a man's domestic circumstances and stood to profit from each man they captured, resorting to violence if necessary.
FROM: Osprey Publishing's, 'Nelson's Sailors'
PRICE: £320.00 (unframed)
SIZE: Image approx. H 23 cm x W 30 cm (H 9 x W 12 inches)
MEDIUM: Watercolour
During the Napoleonic Wars, a press gang on patrol in the streets of a British port town kept a keen eye out for seamen on leave from merchant vessels or from naval vessels laid up or out of service.
Here, a sailor recently released and still in 'shore-going-rig' is easily distinguishable and if not registered on a warship's books, will be seized in this officially sanctioned form of kidnapping.
The protests of the sailors family would be fruitless, a press gang gave no consideration to a man's domestic circumstances and stood to profit from each man they captured, resorting to violence if necessary.
FROM: Osprey Publishing's, 'Nelson's Sailors'
PRICE: £320.00 (unframed)
SIZE: Image approx. H 23 cm x W 30 cm (H 9 x W 12 inches)
MEDIUM: Watercolour