A View of Fort La Galette, Indian Castle, and Taking a French Ship of War on the River St. Lawrence, by Four Boats of One Gun Each of the Royal Artillery Commanded by Captain Streachy, 1760

Executed in water‑colour, the work reflects the rococo taste for fluid brushwork and delicate colour modulation. Davies renders the vessels with precise line and subtle shading, while atmospheric perspective is achieved through gradations of light that recede into the distance, giving depth to the river and sky.

Created during Davies’s service in North America, the painting served both as a visual record of a specific engagement and as a personal illustration of his experiences. It entered the National Gallery of Canada’s collection, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of 18th‑century British military art.

The image captures a moment of the Seven Years’ War when British forces were advancing along the St. Lawrence to secure Quebec. Fort La Galette and the nearby Indian castle were strategic points, and the seizure of a French ship illustrated the Royal Navy’s growing dominance on the river.