Artwork

The Action and Capture of the Spanish Xebeque Frigate El Gamo

The Action and Capture of the Spanish Xebeque Frigate El Gamo, by Clarkson Frederick Stanfield, oil, 1840
The Action and Capture of the Spanish Xebeque Frigate El Gamo, by Clarkson Frederick Stanfield, oil, 1840

The Action and Capture of the Spanish Xebeque Frigate El Gamo is an oil painting by Clarkson Frederick Stanfield. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The Action and Capture of the Spanish Xebeque Frigate El Gamo is an oil painting created in 1845 by Clarkson Frederick Stanfield, an English artist with a background in sailing.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a naval battle from 1801 between the British brig-sloop HMS Speedy and the Spanish xebec-frigate El Gamo, where the smaller British vessel emerged victorious, boosting the reputation of its commander, Lord Cochrane.

Technique & Style

Stanfield's work combines elements of marine art and history painting, utilizing light and shadow to convey tension and drama, as seen in the contrast between the sunlit sails of El Gamo and the darker surrounding water.

History & Provenance

Commissioned by Commander Charles Spencer Ricketts, who participated in the battle, the painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts' Summer Exhibition in 1845 and later acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1901.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Clarkson Frederick Stanfield

Artist

Clarkson Frederick Stanfield

Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (3 December 1793 – 18 May 1867) was an English artist best known for his large-scale paintings of marine art and landscapes.