The European Art Sale Part I
The European Art Sale Part I
Property from the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, New Brunswick
Montague Dawson
The Engagement between the H.M.S. Shannon and the U.S.S. Chesapeake, 1st June 1813
Auction Closed
January 27, 10:47 PM GMT
Estimate
200,000 - 300,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Property from the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, New Brunswick
Montague Dawson
British
1895 - 1973
The Engagement between the H.M.S. Shannon and the U.S.S. Chesapeake, 1st June 1813
signed Montague Dawson (lower left)
oil on canvas
canvas: 28½ by 45 in; 72.5 by 114.3 cm
framed: 34½ by 52 in.; 87.7 by 132 cm
Col. Frederick Pope, New York (December, 1946)
Frost & Reed, Ltd., London (acquired from the above, October, 1951)
Dr. John Williamson (February, 1952)
Mrs. Mary Leslie Miller (sister of the above)
Continental Galleries of Fine Art, Montreal
The Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, New Brunswick (purchased with funds from Friends of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, 1960)
The battle between the American frigate, Chesapeake, and the British Shannon took place just outside Boston on June 1, 1813. Seventy of the Chesapeake's crew were killed and one hundred wounded as the ship was fired upon and boarded by the British. The Chesapeake was the first American frigate captured by the British in the 1812-1814 war and the battle ended a long string of American triumphs.
The painting was commissioned by Colonel Frederick Pope, of New York. One of at least four paintings by Dawson on this subject, this particular version shows the Shannon crossing the Chesapeake's bow so that the whole of the English broadside could pound the American ship, while the Chesapeake could only bring her bow cannons to bear in answer.