Revolutionary War French and British Frigate Battle
George Carter, London: 1780

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Engagement between the Quebec Frigate and the Surveillante Frigate
Engagement between the Quebec Frigate and the Surveillante Frigate
Engagement between the Quebec Frigate and the Surveillante Frigate
George Carter (1737-1795) (artist)
James Caldwall (1739-1819) (engraver)
Engagement between the Quebec Frigate, Cap'n. George Farmer, and the Surveillante Frigate,
Monsieur Couëdic
George Carter, London and M.M. Ciceri, Paris: October 1, 1780
Hand-colored engraving and etching
19.5 x 24 inches, platemark
19.75 x 24.5 inches, overall
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Dramatic scene of the aftermath of a naval battle that took place on October 6, 1779, between the French frigate La Surveillante, commanded by Captain Charles Louis du Couëdic (1740-1780), and the British frigate HMS Quebec, commanded by Captain George Farmer (1732-1779).  Though this event took place off the coast of Brittany, it was precipitated by the American Revolutionary War, during which the French sided with the Americans against the British.  The print is dedicated to George III, the King of England.

In the battle, the ships were evenly armed, and each accompanied by a cutter, which in this print can be glimpsed sailing in the distance.  After three and a half hours of fierce fighting and heavy swells, the two frigates were severely damaged, their masts toppled.  As the French sailors boarded the British ship, a fire broke out on it.  The print shows what happened next: the two sides stopped fighting and worked together to rescue as many men as possible, with Captain Couëdic sending his only lifeboat.  Sailors, many naked, are shown as they cling to floating wreckage, or sit in the crowded lifeboat.  43 British sailors were rescued by the French, but many more perished, including Captain Farmer, who died aboard his ship when it exploded.  Couëdic died of his wounds in January 1780, and was admired for his courage and compassion by both the French and the British.

George Carter was a British portrait, history and genre painter of humble origins, who originally came to London from his native Colchester as a servant.  Apparently, he was essentially self-taught as a painter, learning the craft through association with other artists.  He traveled in Italy, Russia and the West Indies.  He exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Society of Artists in London between 1769 and 1784, including Wounded Hussar, which he shipped to the 1775 exhibition from Rome.  Carter favored subjects that celebrated, in his words "good men and brave actions," and painted a number of naval battle scenes.  Among his other notable works are The Adoration of the Shepherds (1778) at St. James Church in Colchester, The Siege of Gibraltar (1782), which is in the collection of the British National Portrait Gallery, and The Death of Captain Cook (1783), now in the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. His work proved popular with the public, and a number of engravings from his paintings were published.

James Caldwall was an etcher, engraver and draftsman born in London.  He is primarily known for his portrait engravings, prints after the Old Masters, and some of the plates for Cook’s Voyages, John Boydell’s Shakespeare Gallery and Thomas Sheraton’s Cabinet Maker’s and Upholsterer’s Drawing-Book.  He showed engravings with the Society of Artists and from 1770 to 1780 exhibited with the Free Society.

Full title, dedication and publication information: "To the Kings most excellent Majesty This plate Representing the Engagement between the Quebec Frigate, Cap'n. George Farmer, and the Surveillante Frigate, Monsieur Couëdic.  Is with His gracious Permission most humbly Dedicated, by his Majesty's most faithful & most dutiful Subject and Servant George Carter.  Publish'd as the Act directs Oct'r. 1, 1780 by Geo. Carter of Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, London et chez M.M. Ciceri et Ce. rue Honoré A Paris.  A.P.D.R."

References:

Bénézit, E. Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs.  France: Librairie Gründ, 1966.  Vol. 2, p. 350

"Charles Louis de Couëdic."  Wikipedia.  18 September 2011.  http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Louis_du_Couëdic (11 October 2011).

Maxted, Ian. “The London book trades 1775-1800: a preliminary checklist of members.” 2001.  http://www.devon.gov.uk/library/locstudy/bookhist/lonc.html (Caldwall). (11 January 2005).

Redgrave, Samuel. A Dictionary of Artists of the English School: Painters, Sculptors, Architects, Engravers and Ornamentists.  London: Longmans, Green, and Col., 1874. p. 65 (Caldwall), p. 69 (Carter).

Souchon, Christian.  "The Engagement between the 'Surveillante' and HMS 'Quebec', on October 6th 1779."  Chrsouchon.free.fr.  3 December 2009.  http://chrsouchon.free.fr/surveile.htm (11 October 2011).