A frigate and a naval cutter chasing a French cutter, with a boat recovering a man overboard

Oil painting. This was previously described as a frigate and Revenue cutter chasing a French smuggler but in fact appears to be a wartime subject of a French cutter escaping two Royal Naval vessels, with a lieutanant in a boat from the frigate rescuing a seaman who has fallen overboard from the rigging in the lively conditions. While the British cutter is in chase, the frigate (seen in port-quarter view) has her main topsail backed, heaving-to briefly for the rescue operation. She nonethless fires one or more guns from her starboard battery at the fleeing French vessel. While the picture has a received attribution to James Buttersworth this bears reconsideration since the subject and manner also suggest it might be by Thomas. [PvdM 11/14]