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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. It was 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 in the east. 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. The force that descended on Cuba consisted of 22 ships of the line, four 50-gun ships, three 40-gunners, a dozen frigates and a dozen sloops and bomb vessels. Pocock took this great fleet of about 180 vessels from Jamaica and sailed through the dangerous Old Straits of Bahama, to take Havana by surprise.
Serres, a well-born Frenchman, ran away to sea in merchant service rather than follow the family wish that he enter the Church. He probably arrived in England as a naval prisoner of war, took up painting and settled there. He rapidly achieved recognition for his visual accounts of sea actions of the Seven Years War, becoming established as England's leading marine painter. His work was even more in demand in the 1770s and 1780s, recording the naval history of the American Revolutionary War. In 1768 Serres was a founder member of the Royal Academy. A well-respected and sociable man, he was appointed Marine Painter to George III in 1780.
Title
The Captured Spanish Fleet at Havana, August–September 1762
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 108 x W 180.3 cm
Accession number
BHC0416
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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