France - Lorient, France; Louis Le Breton (1818–1866) / Pierre-Louis-Frédéric Lehnert - L'ALMA - Corvette française cuirassée a éperon - 1861-1880

Armored stern-spurred corvette of the Alma Class, progenitor of a series of 7 wooden warships with iron armor designed by the renowned naval engineer Henri Dupuy de Lôme. Compositional elements: The print offers a dynamic and dramatic rendering of the ship as it cleaves a stormy sea with towering waves. The unit displays the typical mixed propulsion of the era: three fully rigged masts and two central smokestacks in full operation emitting dark smoke. Along the gunwales the characteristic protruding barbettes for the cannons can be seen. At the stern the French tricolor flag waves.

The sheet preserves excellent freshness of line and vivid color saturation of the skies and sea. The paper presents the typical uniform patina of time that guarantees its authenticity. Margins intact, text perfectly legible at the bottom. No significant tears or omissions in the main body of the illustration.