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| Keywords: Thomas Luny - The Battle of The Saints.jpg between 1782 1837 oil panel cm 27 5 43 2 institution National Maritime Museum object history credit line <small>The Saints was the last major action of the American Revolutionary War fought near the islets called the Iles des Saintes just north of Dominica in the West Indies Admiral Sir George Rodney's victory over the French fleet of the Comte de Grasse foiled the latter's attempt to invade Jamaica and enabled Britain to secure her position in the West Indies by the treaty that ended the war in 1783 even though she lost her American colonies The battle is also famous as the point of origin of the tactic of 'breaking the line' which was achieved with great albeit accidental effect by Rodney in seizing an advantage created by a shift of wind as the fleets began the action The principal subject here is the clash of flagships of the two commanders-in-chief both seen from astern in port- quarter view The larger 'Ville de Paris' 110 guns flagship of de Grasse is fully seen in the centre on the left Admiral Sir George Rodney in the 'Formidable' 90 guns is engaging her to starboard on the right partly concealed although de Grasse eventually struck to his second-in-command Samuel Hood in the 'Barham' Rodney correctly flies the St George's cross at the main as an Admiral of the White but a red ensign rather than a white one This was his normal colour but he had specifically ordered the British fleet to fly red on this occasion to minimize confusion in action with enemy ships flying the white Bourbon colours of pre-Revolutionary France as shown on the 'Ville de Paris' There is an inscription identifying the action written by Luny in pen and ink on the back of the panel 'Adml Lord Rodney Engaging the French Fleet / Commanded by the Count de Grasse April 12th 1782 / T Luny' The signature is in the same form as he also used for painted signatures The back also bears stuck down the finely engraved trade card of Thomas Merle who was Luny's London selling agent from early in his independent career in the 1780s after he left the pupilage of Francis Holman He still had dealings with Merle until 1817 ten years after permanently moving to Teignmouth However while this picture is undated the colour and handling suggest it is relatively early The rectangular card has the text centred within a horizontal oval border At top centre this includes the device of a hanging key in a smaller vertical oval It reads ˜THOMAS hanging key MERLE / Successor to the late Mr Deerlove / Picture Frame Maker Carver Gilder Printseller / At the Golden Key No 36 Leadenhall Street / London / Makes Sells all sorts of Picture Frames Carves Gilds Looking / Glass Frames Girandoles in the neatest Taste at the most / Reasonable Prices Landscapes Sea Pieces neatly Painted / Pictures carefully cleaned lined mended / Old Frames new Gilt on the shortest / Notice / Mouldings of different Patterns Lengths for the conveniency of Export ™<ref>http //collections rmg co uk/collections/objects/12193 html ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH</ref> reflist </small> accession number BHC0701 http //collections rmg co uk/collections/objects/12193 html ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH PD-old-100-1923 Thomas Luny Battle of the Saintes Paintings in the National Maritime Museum London 18th-century sailing ships in paintings 18th-century oil on panel paintings 19th-century sailing ships in paintings 19th-century oil on panel paintings 18th-century paintings of naval battles 19th-century paintings of naval battles | ||||
