Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are offering this large oil on canvas by the artist Michael Beeston, who has signed the painting in the lower left hand corner and written a short description of the naval action depicted, on the back of the canvas as shown. The painting depicts the action between the British frigate HMS Belvidera and a US squadron led by the frigate USS President, in company with the frigates, USS Congress, USS United States. the sloop USS Hornet and the brig USS Argus. Apparently, as it was only five days into the war, the Belvidera, under Captain Byron was unaware that war had been declared until finding herself under fire and vastly outnumbered off Nantucket Shoal. By lightening the ship by throwing as much as possible overboard, she eventually managed to get away as night fell, thereby drawing the squadron away from a British convoy from Jamaica.

HMS Belvidera, was built at Deptford in 1809 and was an Apollo-class fifth rate frigate. She saw action in the Napoleonic wars and the war of 1812. She was eventually sold off in 1906, after a lengthy career in the Navy, serving as a depot ship from 1846, as a receiving ship in Portsmouth from 1852 until 1890.

Unfortunately, we have been unable to discover any biographical information about the artist, so his name may be a pseudonym.

The painting has been newly framed in a 2 1/4" soft mottled silver frame. It will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 35 1/2" x 27 5/8" - 90.15cm x 70.1cm

Frame size: 40 1/4" x 32" - 102.2cm x 81.25cm

Medium: Oils on canvas

Condition: Very good. There are no repairs to the canvas which is clean and taut and there is only a small amount of craqueleure. The frame is new.