Episodios Maritimos. El Valeroso Capitan de Fregata Dn. Blas de Lezo.... Ano de 1710

Hand-coloured lithograph showing a Spanish vessel on the left towing a captured British merchant frigate on the right. Inscribed beneath the image in Spanish. The text translates as ‘The valiant Capitan de fragata Don Blas de Lezo, commanding a single vessel of our Royal Navy, succeeded in glorious actions in capturing eleven English vessels, the least of 20 guns, and among them the ship-of-the-line named Stanhoppe [sic]. Such an achievement, never equalled in any navy in the world, brought to the brave Lezo the glory of receiving honourable wounds in action and of placing his name very high in the regions of fame (Anno 1710).’

This print was lithographed by Juan Donon after a drawing by José Vallejo y Galeazo. It appears to be based on a painting by an unknown Spanish artist, dated about 1820, in the collection of Museo Naval in Madrid. The print featured as Plate 19 in 'Historia de la marina real española episodios maritimos', published in 1850.

The ‘Stanhope’ was under the command of Captain John Combs. It is shown as a two-decked with foresail, fore topsail spritsail and spritsail topsail set; the main topmast and mizzen mast have gone, and the ship flies the Spanish flag over the white ensign with the St George’s cross as a jack. The Spanish ship has a single gun-deck and has lost the mizzen topgallant mast.