Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets
Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets
The Rais Hamidou of Algiers fights alone against the American Fleet, Algeria, 19th century
Auction Closed
October 26, 12:30 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
ink and watercolour on paper, within narrow black rules, inscription along the lower edge in Maghribi naskh: "This is the frigate of the Rais Hamid. It was chased by these ships of the Americans … on Friday, at the time of prayer in the middle of the month of Rajab, and [the battle] took over five hours and from among the Muslims eighty souls died. Year 123[0] (1815)", inscription in French on reverse
54.5 by 44.5cm.
Ex-private collection, France.
As indicated by the inscription, this painting represents the battle of Cape Gata from the Second Barbary War which took place off the south-east coast of Spain on 17 June 1815. Under the command of Stephen Decatur Jr., a fleet of nine vessels defeated the Algerian flagship Mashouda commanded by Admiral Rais Hamidou. A comparable painting is in the Metropolitan Museum New York (see https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/781853). Like the painting in the Metropolitan museum the Mashouda is identified by its bright red flag at the stern, surrounded by the nine American ships and billowing clouds of cannon fire. Among the dead was Rais Hamidou (1773-1815), who was targeted for his role in leading raids on American merchant vessels in the Mediterranean, and demanding ransom for their crews.