{"product_id":"20834","title":"\"H.M.S. Spartan engages a French squadron, Bay of Naples 3rd May, 1810\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOil on Linen Canvas \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e31 1\/2x 43 1\/4 inches (80 x 110 cm)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSigned, lower left\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: Commissioned from the artistfor a Continental EuropeanPrivate Collection, 2002\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSold by Marine Artists to a British Private Collection\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes on the action: \u003c\/strong\u003eOn 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e May 1810 the British 38-gun frigate \u003cem\u003eSpartan\u003c\/em\u003e (Captain Jahleel Brenton) and the 32-gun frigate \u003cem\u003eSuccess\u003c\/em\u003e, cruising in the Bay of Naples, chased a French force consisting of a frigate, corvette, brig and cutter into harbour at Naples. Captain Brenton realising that the enemy would be more likely to engage one frigate than two, ordered \u003cem\u003eSuccess\u003c\/em\u003e back to their rendezvous point off Capri and took \u003cem\u003eSpartan\u003c\/em\u003e alone into the bay to tempt the French.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe French in turn had made a plan to relieve the British frigates’ blockade of the port, packing 400 Swiss troops into their frigate and corvette and sending out at dawn on the 3\u003csup\u003erd\u003c\/sup\u003e May a very strong squadron comprising the frigate \u003cem\u003eCeres\u003c\/em\u003e, 42 guns, the corvette \u003cem\u003eFama\u003c\/em\u003e, 28, the cutter \u003cem\u003eAchille\u003c\/em\u003e, 10, and the brig \u003cem\u003eSparviere\u003c\/em\u003e, 8. These were backed up by at least seven gun boats, each mounting a long 18-pounder. Including the Swiss troops it is estimated that the French deployed 95 guns and 1400 men against \u003cem\u003eSpartan’s\u003c\/em\u003e total of 46 guns and 258 men and boys.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCeres\u003c\/em\u003e opened fire just before 8 a.m. but \u003cem\u003eSpartan \u003c\/em\u003eheld her fire until able to give \u003cem\u003eCeres\u003c\/em\u003e a treble-shotted broadside that caused great loss among the Swiss soldiers who were drawn up on the main deck ready for boarding. \u003cem\u003eSpartan\u003c\/em\u003e then treated \u003cem\u003eFama\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSparviere \u003c\/em\u003eto a broadside each before firing on the smaller ships as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 9 a.m. the breeze died suddenly, leaving \u003cem\u003eSpartan, \u003c\/em\u003ewhich had been manoeuvring skilfully, exposed to fire from all sides; at this point Captain Brenton received a serious grapeshot wound in the hip and was carried below leaving Lieutenant George Willes to command the ship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThis major painting by Geoff Hunt shows the moment just after 10 a.m., when \u003cem\u003eSpartan\u003c\/em\u003e (the breeze having returned) sails through the enemy squadron discharging at the same moment both her broadsides. Having seen off \u003cem\u003eCeres\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eFama, Spartan \u003c\/em\u003etook \u003cem\u003eSparviere \u003c\/em\u003eas a prize. Captain Brenton recovered from his wound and was awarded a Patriotic Fund Sword by Lloyd’s for this exceptionally gallant action.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOMMISSIONING GEOFF HUNT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt Marine Artists.co.uk one of our main specialities is commissioning great marine and historical paintings for clients and collectors all over the world\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTo commission your own painting from Geoff Hunt, contact Charles Mayes \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ca href=\"mailto:cm@marineartists.co.uk\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ecm@marineartists.co.uk\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eand we will post or email you a free pack of information including our short guides\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\"Commissioning a Painting from Geoff Hunt\" \u003c\/strong\u003eand\u003cstrong\u003e \"Price Guide and Timescale\"\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe commission process is very easy, straightforward and enjoyable\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"GEOFF HUNT, P.P.R.S.M.A. (British, Contemporary)","offers":[{"title":"Commissioned Oil Painting","offer_id":55616616202582,"sku":"FM01Spartan-20834","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1048\/3050\/1206\/files\/Hunt_20-_20Spartan_20-_20cropped_3e4a6476-9725-4510-9d62-7c7702ee9a2c.jpg?v=1791279846","url":"https:\/\/marineartists.co.uk\/products\/20834","provider":"Marine Artists","version":"1.0","type":"link"}