Jacques-Noël Sané designed the Hortense-class 40-gun frigates of the French Navy in 1802, a development of his 1793 design for the Virginie class.

Eight frigates to this new design were ordered between 1801 and 1806, but two ordered on 18 April 1803 at Antwerp (Néréïde and Vénus) were cancelled unstarted in June 1803; the other six were built between 1803 and 1807.

Of the six, one was wrecked at sea and the British Royal Navy captured three, taking two into service.

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