Thomas Luny

D. Lewis;
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 6 December 1935, lot 159 (as signed and dated 1823) for 30 Guineas, to Tetley;
Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's East, 17 February 1999, lot 287 (as Attributed to Luny);
There acquired by Bernadette and William M.B. Berger, Denver, Colorado.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This work has not been recently restored. The canvas has an old glue lining. Much of the restoration that has been done is quite heavy handed. Although a re-examination of all of the restorations would be a considerable process, it is certainly worth considering. The right side of the sky, including all of the grey clouds and smoke, appears to have been broadly repainted by a restorer. This sloppy intervention can also be seen around the two ships on the far right and around the sails of the vessels in the center. The dark cloud at the top of the sky in the center running towards the upper left is also not original. In the marine activity, there are small restorations and abrasions that have received restorations. There is some broad retouching in the dark color across the foreground, and the sails of the large boat on the far left are also quite heavily restored. This painting does not look its best at the moment because of the sloppy restoration and uneven condition, and there is every reason to believe that careful restoration would make a notable difference.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

The Battle of Trafalgar was Admiral Lord Nelson’s most celebrated victory and the one which, ultimately, cost him his life.  Fought off Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish coast near Cadiz, the British fleet was greatly outnumbered by a significantly larger Franco-Spanish fleet.  However, through Nelson’s brilliant strategy and daring, the enemy was roundly defeated in what is now considered to be one of the greatest maritime battles of all time.

In this painting, the de-masted ship foundering in the foreground is the Spanish 2 decker Monarca, a third rate ship of the line of 74 guns, commanded by Captain Don Teodoro de Argumosa.  During the battle she was attacked at close range by HMS Mars and HMS Tonnant as they first cut the Franco-Spanish line.  HMS Bellerophon, sailing behind Tonnant, then slipped under her stern and fired two broadsides into her, heavily damaging the ship, and she was captured by a party of Royal Marines.  She sustained 255 casualties during the action, out of a crew of 667, and was later destroyed by the guns of HMS Naiad.   At the center of the composition, still flying the French tricolor on her stern, is most likely the Rédoubtable, which endured devastating broadside attacks from HMS Victory and HMS Temeraire.  The ship on fire in the background at right is the French Téméraire class 74-gun ship of the line Achille.  At the rear of the Franco-Spanish line, she was heavily assaulted by HMS Defiance, HMS Dreadnought and HMS Prince, caught fire and eventually exploded when the fire reached her powder magazine, taking 480 crew down with her.