THOMAS CRASKELL (BRITISH, FL. 1748-1750)
The Retreat of the Spanish Squadron After Admiral Knowles' Action off Havana, 1st October 1748
Oil on canvas
38¾ x 72¼in. (98.4 x 183.5cm.)

Provenance: This represents the first of a pair of works on the subject by this rare artist; the second picture depicting the burning of the Spanish Flagship Africa forms part of the Caird Collection at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. No. BHC 0375

What had started as a conflict between England and Spain in what was known as the War of Jenkins' Ear was eventually swallowed up into a larger conflict involving all the main European powers, the Austrian War of Spanish Succession. The West Indies, rich in resources, became the ground for some of the fiercest territorial rivalries, and were caught up in conflict even as peace was being negotiated in Europe. Rear-Admiral Charles Knowles, the Commander in Chief of the Jamaican Squadron, saw one last opportunity for a major success in the Caribbean. In September of 1748, Knowles learned that the Spanish Plate (treasure) Fleet was soon due in Havana and planned on intercepting and capturing the fleet. The British fleet, consisting of six ships-of-the-lines, left Port Royal and cruised off Tortuga Banks until spotting the Spanish ships on 1 October. To Knowles' surprise, the Spanish squadron, led by Admiral Don Andres Reggio, was made up of seven ships of war, rather than the treasure galleons Knowles had expected. Starting with the wind in his favour, Knowles made a slow approach eventually losing his advantage. Instead of capturing the entire squadron, Knowles and his men only managed the surrendering of the 64-gun Conquistador and the driving to shore of the 74-gun flagship Africa, which was subsequently burned by the Spanish to avoid its capture. The rest of the Spanish squadron made it safely to Havana, and Knowles' last chance to make a mortal blow to Spain was lost. Upon his return home, Knowles was court marshalled and officially reprimanded, though his courage was never questioned.

Condition Report
Repaired tear (patched behind, right side), scattered areas of retouching.

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