Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.21426

    Kite communication

    Date
    1816
    Creator
    Ambrose William Warren (1781 - 1856, British) , Engraver
    After
    Cornelius Varley (1781 - 1873, British) , Painter
    Object type
    Library reference
    31094
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (print): 204mm
    width (print): 120mm
    Subject
    Description
    Maritime scene showing a system of kites and floats intended to enable ship-to-shore communication by stranded vessels.

    The accompanying text notes that: ‘A kite is shown drawing a float to the shore: the wind is blowing obliquely, yet the float is coming nearly direct, the kite string being fixed on one side. Another float is ashore; part of the kite-string is shown attached to one side, and men ar brining a boat ashore by a ripe from its stern, having a stronger rope from their stern to the ship. Two other floats on the fore-ground, show their form.’

    Plate illustrating the set of correspondence relating to the award of a gold medal ‘for a method of effecting Communications between stranded Vessels and the Shore…’, Transactions of the Society, instituted at London, for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce…[Transactions of the Royal Society of Arts] v.34, (1816) pp.182-183.

    Inscribed below: ’Capt. Chas. Le Hardy’s method of communicating with ye Shore. Drawn by Cornelius Varley. Engrav’d by A.W. Warren’.
    Associated place
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