Chesapeake Bay, USA
1795
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Description
Watercolour depicting the 'Cleopatra' (right) towing the 'Thetis' (left) towards the Chesapeake on 31 December 1794, with the sloop 'Lynx' and frigate 'Thisbe' attending (in the background), and the pilot boat 'Sally of Norfolk' in the foreground. This is the 2nd (of 4?) watercolours by Tobin depicting these events. The 'Cleopatra' was in French hands briefly (17- 23 February 1805), and she was broken up in 1814. George Tobin was a junior lieutenant in the 'Providence' on Bligh's second breadfruit voyage (1791-93). He retired as a captain and lived near Teignmouth where, after 1807, he became a friend of the marine painter Thomas Luny. Medium includes pen and black ink. signed by the artist and dated.
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