A scene from the Battle of Lissa, part of the Adriatic campaign of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle for possession of the strategically important island of Lissa (also known as Vis), from which the British squadron had been disrupting French shipping in the Adriatic, took place on 13 March 1811. It was fought between a British frigate squadron and a substantially larger squadron of French and Venetian frigates and smaller ships. The French needed to control the Adriatic to supply a growing army in the Illyrian Provinces.

Whitcombe based his composition on a sketch by J L Few, who was on board the 'Amphion', and this is the third plate in a series depicting the battle. It is inscribed: "To the Right Honorable Charles Yorke, First Lord of the Admiralty, &c. &c. / Plate 3rd Representing the Favorite of 44 Guns, Commodore Dubordieu [or Dubourdieu] on Shore and on Fire - Active and Cerberus taking possession of / the Corona of 44 Guns, and a Boat from the Amphion boarding the Bellona of 32 Guns - the Flora of 44 Guns escaping / after having struck her Colours owing to the crippled state of the British Squadron - / Is by permission respectfully Dedicated by his most obt humble servt George Andrews."

On each side of the inscription are details of the "English Force", on the left, and the "French Force", on the right. The action took place on 13 March, 1811. The 'Amphion' is at the centre of the composition. Crew on a boat from the 'Amphion' can be seen attempting to board the 'Bellona', shown captured and flying a white ensign above the flag of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy stern on at extreme left.

Published by George Andrews, Marine Print Warehouse, London 1812. Hand-coloured aquatint.

PAI5772 and PAJ3932 are duplicates.