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The International Naval Festival at Portsmouth: flight of rockets and illumination..., 1865. Creator: Unknown
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The International Naval Festival at Portsmouth: flight of rockets and illumination..., 1865. Creator: Unknown
The International Naval Festival at Portsmouth: flight of rockets and illumination of the Allied Fleets at Spithead, 1865. 'As if by magic...every ship in the two squadrons was so illuminated, by means of red, white, and blue lights placed in every port, at both broadsides, and both yardarms, that the object which only a few moments before looked...so grim and shadowy became at once transformed into a ship of light, revealing to view the outline of her slenderest spar. Rockets were then sent up in clusters from the whole of the fleet, which, as they burst in the heavens, expanded into bouquets...and then gradually melted away in the still air, but only to be followed at short intervals by other clusters of rockets bursting and descending in an equally-brilliant shower...as each set of lights died away, and the illumination seemed to be coming to an end, the full blaze of its splendour was again restored with the same magical rapidity with which it was first created...The illumination lasted for about twenty minutes, throughout the whole of which time the St. Vincent, the Duke of Wellington, and the other men-of- war in the harbour, displayed lights at every porthole, causing the gentle ripple on the waves to sparkle like diamonds'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865
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Media ID 38686713
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Channel Cultural Event Dark Darkness English Channel Firework Firework Display Fireworks Illuminate Illuminated Illumination Illuminations Lit Up Naval Portsmouth Hampshire England Rocket Rockets Royal Navy Show Spithead Hampshire England Naval Warfare
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EDITORS COMMENTS
**A Night of Enchantment: The International Naval Festival at Portsmouth**
In this breathtaking photograph, taken in 1865, the International Naval Festival at Portsmouth is transformed into a magical spectacle. As if by magic, every ship in the Allied Fleets' squadron has been illuminated with red, white, and blue lights placed along its hulls and masts. The result is nothing short of mesmerizing - ships once shrouded in darkness now shine like beacons on the water.
The pièce de résistance comes as rockets burst into clusters above the fleet, releasing bouquets of light that gradually fade away only to be replaced by new bursts of color. This dazzling display lasts for nearly 20 minutes, with each set of lights dying down before being restored in a flash of brilliance. The ripple on the waves sparkles like diamonds as ships at anchor join in the illumination.
This stunning photograph captures the essence of an unforgettable evening - one that combines technology, artistry, and sheer spectacle to create a truly magical experience.
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