This striking 19th-century lithograph titled “The Royal Flotilla” presents a colorful and ceremonious maritime scene, likely set along the Nile or a similarly majestic waterway. At the forefront, a grand royal barge adorned with vibrant flags and ornate detailing floats calmly near a dramatic cliffside. Figures aboard the vessel appear engaged in formal duties or ceremonial activity, underscoring the flotilla’s official or regal nature.
Several other steam-powered and sail-assisted vessels bearing the Ottoman flag are anchored nearby, billowing smoke into the sky—suggesting a fusion of tradition and industrial modernity. The Turkish crescent flags and heraldic emblems flutter against a warm-toned backdrop of sandstone cliffs, evoking the splendor and pageantry of state-sponsored expeditions or royal tours.
Lithographed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, a leading British printmaker of the Victorian era, this image captures the Orientalist fascination with imperial spectacle and exotic geographies. With its elegant composition and detailed rendering, the work offers a romanticized glimpse into 19th-century naval grandeur and Ottoman-European encounters

Product Details