Roem (Fama) met een portret van Horatio Nelson en veertien portretten van officieren bij de Slag aan de Nijl 1803

This print by William Bromley commemorates the British victory at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. It depicts Horatio Nelson and fourteen officers. The image creates meaning through its visual codes. The figure of Roem, or Fame, carries a portrait of Nelson. Below, a reclining male figure symbolizing the Nile River and a sphinx evoke the exotic locale of the battle. These are typical visual devices through which the British, during the late 1790s, constructed a sense of national identity through naval victories. It also reveals the power of the British empire at the time. Such images were widely disseminated through print culture, shaping public opinion and reinforcing imperial ambitions. Art historians use archival research and period publications to understand how art shapes national identity and reflects the complex interplay of politics, culture, and power. By examining this print, we gain insights into the social conditions and institutional forces that shaped artistic production and public perception of British power during this period.