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Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data

Photo #: KN-10855 (color)

Battle between Continental Ship Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis, 23 September 1779

Oil on canvas, 21" x 28", by Thomas Mitchell (1735-1790), signed and dated by the artist, 1780.
It depicts Bonhomme Richard (center), commanded by Continental Navy Captain John Paul Jones, closely engaged with HMS Serapis, commanded by Royal Navy Captain Richard Pearson, off Flamborough Head, England.
Firing at right is the Continental frigate Alliance, while at left the British sloop-or-war Countess of Scarborough is engaging the French frigate Pallas.

The original painting is in the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis, Maryland. It was donated by the U.S. Naval Institute in 1949.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 59KB; 900 x 645 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

High-Resolution JPG

This "Hi-Res" JPG image has been cleaned to mitigate dust and other significant imaging flaws. Details of the original painting are unchanged.

NOTES:

  • Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger low-resolution view of the same image.
  • For a HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE, click on the words "High-Resolution JPG".

  • If you want other types reproductions than these digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

  • To the best of our knowledge, the picture referenced here is in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

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    Image posted 13 February 2009
    Photo caption updated 29 March 2009