Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
"Bonhomme Richard" Engaging the "Serapis" |
Place of Origin |
England |
Artist or Maker |
Serres, Dominic (or Dominique), the Elder, R.A. (1722-1793) |
Date |
c.1775-1785 |
Materials |
Oil on Canvas |
Dimension Details |
Canvas Height: 24 3/4" Width: 44 1/2" Stretcher Height: 25" Width: 44 5/8" Framed Height: 33" Width: 52" |
Description |
This historical maritime painting depicts a medium-high, eye-level scene of two pairs of ships engaging in close-range fire beneath a cloudy, moonlit sky. The title of the painting refers to the famous American Revolution naval battle of Captain John Paul Jones after he led a squadron of ships around England in his French provisioned flagship "Bonhomme Richard." Subsequent to sighting, engaging, and capturing HMS "Serapis," the "Bonhomme Richard" was so badly damaged that it sunk the next day. Dominic Serres, the Elder was a ship portrait painter from Gascony, France, who specialized in historical incidents. Eventually, he was appointed marine painter to King George III of England, became a founding member of the Royal Academy in 1768, and was made librarian of that institution in 1792. |
Provenance |
The Old Print Shop, New York, New York, 1949 Sold to the Corcoran Gallery of Art Sold to Hirschl & Adler Gallery Sold to Horace W. Gordon, VIllanova, Pennsylvania Sold to The Dietrich American Foundation, 1969 |
Object Name |
Painting |
Object ID |
6.7.550 |
Search Terms |
paintings |