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Notes
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A depiction of an episode from the last major operation of the Seven Years War, 1756–1763, part of England's offensive against Spain when she entered the war in support of France late in 1761. The British Government's response was immediately to plan large offensive amphibious operations against Spanish overseas possessions, particularly Havana, the capital of the western dominions and Manila, the capital of the eastern. Havana needed large forces for its capture and early in 1762 ships and troops were dispatched under Admiral Sir George Pocock and General the Earl of Albemarle. Pocock took his great fleet of about 180 sail through the dangerous Old Bahama Strait, from Jamaica, to take Havana by surprise. Havana, on Cuba's north coast, was guarded by the elevated Morro Castle which commanded both the entrance to its fine harbour, immediately to the west, and the town on the west side of the bay.
This is one of a series of 11 painted by Dominic Serres to illustrate the principal events of the campaign for the Keppel family, of whom three distinguished brothers served at Havana: George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle, was the army commander-in-chief; Commodore the Hon. Augustus Keppel was naval second-in-command and Major-General the Hon. William Keppel directed the storming of the Morro Castle.
The artist himself knew Havana from his earlier sea-going career and may have lived there for a short period. Serres also did a second set of 11 paintings of the capture Havana, which were engraved by P.C. Canot.
Title
The Capture of Havana, 1762: The Morro Castle and the Boom Defence before the Attack
Date
1770
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 83.8 x W 175.2 cm
Accession number
BHC0408
Acquisition method
on loan to the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK, from a private lender
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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