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The Seven Years War (1756-63)

Manuscript and printed maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war

PHILIP ORSBRIDGE (D. 1766)

Havana, 1762

To Mariot Arbuthnot Esq,,r COMMANDER, of His Majesty’s Ship of War Orford, at the REDUCTION of the Havannah, in the Year 1762, / This Perspective View, of landing the Cannon, Bombs, Provisions, and Water, for the Army, June 30,,th...

c.1765

Etching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on paper, the backing paper brought round the edges of the recto | 44.1 x 63.1 cm (image) | RCIN 733043.g

A view of the landing of ordnance and supplies on Cuba by the British fleet on 30 June 1762. Seven Years War (1756-63).

One of a collection of ten (RCINs 733043.a-j) out of twelve prints. See the main entry at RCIN 733043.

These plates, which were painted by Serres after a series of sketches by Philip Orsbridge who was a Lieutenant on board the Orford, depict different stages of the British siege of Havana which took place between 6 June and 13 August 1762. The British combined operations force of 200 transports with 12,000 troops and twenty ships of the line with 17,000 sailors was commanded by Lieutenant-General George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle (1724-72), Vice-Admiral Sir George Pocock (1706-92), and Major-General George Augustus Eliott (1717-90).

British Museum Reg.No. 1849, 1003.16.

Condition: no fold lines. Verso: brown discolouration.
  • Philip Orsbridge (d. 1766) (artist and publisher) [bottom centre, below title:] Drawn on the Spot design’d and publish’d as the Act directs.

    Dominic Serres the Elder (1722-93) (artist) [bottom left, below view:] Serres pinxit.

    James Mason (active 1743-d. 1806) (engraver) [bottom right, below view:] Mason sculpsit.

  • Watermark: On backing paper: two doves sitting on a dovecote; countermark: two names, one above the other: T DUPUY FIN / AUVERGNE 1742

    Condition: no fold lines. Verso: brown discolouration

  • 40.2 x 63.1 cm (neatline)

    44.1 x 63.1 cm (image)

    45.2 x 65.7 cm (platemark)

    47.5 x 67.8 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    To Mariot Arbuthnot Esq,,r COMMANDER, of His Majesty’s Ship of War Orford, at the REDUCTION of the Havannah, in the Year 1762, / This Perspective View, of landing the Cannon, Bombs, Provisions, and Water, for the Army, June 30,,th between 6 and 7, in the Evening; the Orford making Signals to the Commodore, with the Dragon, Cambridge, & Marlborough, lying with / their Heads to the Sea, for the Sterling Castle, to get to the Westward of them: IS most humbly INSCRIBED BY ONE of his Lieutenants, and Most Devoted Humble Servant, P,, O,, R,, Sbridge. [No plate number. No.7] [bottom, below view, to each side of Arbuthnot's coat of arms]

    Annotations:

    George III heading: none.

    Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 73; [bottom right, black pencil:] C10; [bottom right, black pencil, in a modern hand:] XIII/43 (vii) 25 Sept 86 CMB.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Havana Twelve Historical Views of the glorious Expedition of His Majesty’s Ships and Forces against the Havana in 1762, under the command of Sir George Pocock, Lord Albemarle and Rear Admiral Keppel: by Ph. Orsbridge: painted by Serres and engraved by Canot and Mason: with an Explanation.

  • Subject(s)

    Havana, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba (23°07'58"N 82°22'58"W)

Page revisions

  • 14 March 2024