Keywords: Dominic Serres - The Capture of Havana, 1762, Taking the Town, 14 August.jpg Artwork Creator Dominic Serres A depiction of an episode from the last major operation of the Seven Years War 1756-63 It was part of England's offensive against Spain when she entered the war in support of France late in 1761 The British Government's response was immediately to plan large offensive amphibious operations against Spanish overseas possessions particularly Havana the capital of the western dominions and Manila the capital of the eastern Havana needed large forces for its capture and early in 1762 ships and troops were dispatched under Admiral Sir George Pocock and General the Earl of Albemarle <br /><br /> The force which descended on Cuba consisted of 22 ships of the line four 50-gun ships three 40s a dozen frigates and a dozen sloops and bomb vessels In addition there were troopships storeships and hospital ships Pocock took this great fleet of about 180 sail through the dangerous Old Bahama Strait from Jamaica to take Havana by surprise Havana on Cuba's north coast was guarded by the elevated Morro Castle which commanded both the entrance to its fine harbour immediately to the west and the town on the west side of the bay <br /><br /> The terms of surrender for Havana were concluded on 13 August and in the painting a flotilla of boats of the fleet are shown ferrying in the occupation forces on the following day At the same time as this was taking place sailors dismantled the boom defence visible in the middle distance The Union flag flies from the fort and the men-of-war are firmly established in the harbour ca 1775 oil canvas cm 125 7 187 9 http //collections rmg co uk/collections/objects/11906 html Royal Museums Greenwich http //collections rmg co uk/mediaLib/287/media-287871/large jpg image object history Painted for General George Keppel 3rd Earl of Albemarle 1724 “1772 or his brother Admiral Augustus Keppel 1st Viscount Keppel 1725 “1786 and thence by inheritance to the last owners <br/>sold at Sotheby's London 06 July 2016 lot 42 credit line exhibition history On long term loan to the National Maritime Museum Greenwich 1948 to 2015 accession number BHC0414 accession number http //www sothebys com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2016/old-master-british-paintings-evening-l16033/lot 42 html Sotheby's London 06 July 2016 lot 42 PD-old-100-1923 DEFAULTSORT Serres Dominic; Havana Taking the Town; Sotheby's 2016 Dominic Serres Paintings of Battle of Havana 1775 paintings Cuba in the 1760s 18th-century paintings of naval battles Images from Sotheby's |