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The Battle of Quiberon Bay, 20 November 1759
| titel | The Battle of Quiberon Bay, 20 November 1759
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| inventarisnummer | BHC0400
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| collectie | Oil Paintings
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| museum | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
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| datum | 1779
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| omschrijving | This was the most decisive naval encounter during the Seven Years War, 1756-63, a conflict involving the world’s major powers and fought around the globe. France had been at war with Britain since 1756, her position in Canada, India and the West Indies was on the point of collapse and in Europe she faced stalemate against Prussia, which received British support. In an attempt to solve her problems the French planned to land an army of 20,000 men in Scotland to be conveyed by a fleet of 21 ships of the line under Admiral de Conflans. To this end they had accumulated transport ships and troops around the Loire estuary.
Under Admiral Hawke the British blockaded Brest to prevent the French fleet collecting the troop transports. During a gale in the first week of November, Hawke's blockade ships were forced to shelter in Torbay, giving de Conflans the chance to escape. On hearing that the French had set sail, Hawke went in pursuit and on 20 November, sighted him 20 miles out to sea. De Conflans ordered his fleet to escape into Quiberon Bay, assuming Hawke would not follow when he saw the area of rocks, reefs and wild seas at the entrance to the bay. This was a miscalculation and, instead of safety, de Conflans sailed his fleet into a trap. The ensuing battle resulted in the destruction of the French fleet and the French flagship ‘Soleil Royal’ went aground and was burnt. This action stopped any French plans to invade Britain during the Seven Years War. The famous naval song 'Hearts of Oak' was composed to commemorate the battle.
In the centre of the painting the English ship, ‘Royal George’, flies the blue flag at the main together with the signal for a general engagement at the fore. She is firing at the French ‘Soleil Royal’ and another French ship. Together with the rest of the French line they are moving towards the viewer on the right of the painting. The English fleet is spread out behind the ‘Royal George’. In the distance is the captured French ship ‘Formidable’ together with the spars of a sunken French ship. In the left foreground, rising out of the stormy sea, are the spars and sails of a second French ship. There are glimpses of the coastline in the distance. This scene may have influenced N. Pocock’s later painting of the same subject (BHC 0399). It is signed and dated ‘D.Serres 1779’ and inscribed ‘Fight November 20 1759’.
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| afmetingen | Overall: 1143 x 1828.8 mm
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