John Thomas Serres (London 1759-1825)

This painting recalls a notorious incident on 5 October 1804 in which four Spanish frigates, laden with a rich shipment picked up from Montevideo which was ultimately destined for France, and therefore potentially for use against the British, were confronted by four British frigates who lay in wait to capture them.
The senior British commander, Captain Graham Moore, asked the Spanish Admiral to surrender. When he refused, action commenced, and within ten minutes the Spanish Mercedes had been blown up with the loss of all but one officer and fourty-five men. Half an hour later the Spanish ships Medea and Clara both surrendered. The Spanish Fama tried to escape but also surrendered after she was chased by the British Lively.
The present painting records the eight ships of the two opposing squadrons across the canvas in pairs. In the right foreground the Lively fires into the Clara. Ahead of them is the exploding Mercedes with the stern of the British Amphion beyond her. To the left and ahead the British Indefatigable and Spanish Medea on the right are in close action. Beyond them the British Medusa and Spanish Fama are also firing at each other.
A depiction of this battle by Francis Sartorius painted in 1807 is in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.