Capture of H.B.M. Frigate Macedonian by U.S. Frigate United States, October 25, 1812

Object Details

Artist

Thomas Chambers, born Whitby, England 1808-died Whitby, England 1869, active USA 1832-1865

Gallery Label

The rolling waves and swirls of smoke in this painting convey the noise and excitement of battle. To patriotic nineteenth-century Americans, the victory of the frigate United States over the British ship Macedonian in 1812 marked a triumph against British sea power. Off the Canary Islands, Stephen Decatur's ship damaged the Macedonian's hull, dismasted, and captured her. Decatur became an American hero who famously proclaimed "Our country-...may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong."Exhibition Label, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2006

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Sheldon and Caroline Keck in honor of Elizabeth Broun

1852

Object number

1992.18

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Painting

Folk Art

Medium

oil on canvas

Dimensions

34 7/8 x 50 1/4 in. (88.6 x 127.5 cm.)

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Painting and Sculpture

On View

Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2nd Floor, East Wing

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Topic

History\United States\War of 1812

Architecture\boat\Macedonia

Architecture\boat\United States

Record ID

saam_1992.18

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7cb191fb6-ad33-4ece-9ab8-096f084f7dac