CAPTURE OF THE NUESTRA SENORA DE COVADONGA BY THE HMS CENTURION

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aukepalmhof
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CAPTURE OF THE NUESTRA SENORA DE COVADONGA BY THE HMS CENTURION

Post by aukepalmhof » Sun Sep 05, 2021 11:50 pm

This stamp is designed after (as given by Navicula) after a painting made by the British painter Samuel Scott and gives the capture of the NUESTRA SENORA DE COVADONGA by HMS CENTURION in 1742. By comparing the stamp with the painting they are correct, only the ships has changed position the HMS CENTURION is on the stamp on the starboard side of the Spanish vessel. The painting is in the Maritime Museum in Greenwich in storage.
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The museum gives by this painting:
At the outbreak of the War of the Austrian Succession in 1740, Commodore George Anson was sent to the Pacific with a squadron of six ships, his own being the 'CENTURION', 60 guns. His instructions were to damage Spanish interests in the Pacific at a time when Spain and England were competing for maritime supremacy. Anson sailed via Cape Horn but by the time he reached Macao, China, in November 1742, 'CENTURION', was the only surviving ship in his squadron, the others having been separated or wrecked. After wintering there he set off on 29 April 1743 in search of the immensely valuable Manila galleon NUESTRA SENORA DE COVADONGA, which he sighted while cruising through Philippine waters in June 1743. He immediately attacked the 'Covadonga', which was heavily laden with cargo from Acapulco. During an attempt to escape the Spaniards threw part of this into the ocean, to no avail, and Anson was able to seize the 'Covadonga's treasure of Spanish dollars, silver, and other valuable goods. Its value was immense and not only ensured the financial success of the voyage but made Anson wealthy for life. Both ships are shown in the starboard-quarter view, on the starboard tack, on the right-hand side of the picture. The 'CENTURION', flying the red ensign, is shown to the port of the 'Covadonga', with her massive hull and carved stern. In the left background is the coast of the Island of Samar. A heavy pall of gunsmoke is being carried upwards and to the left of the ships. Scott belonged to the first generation of British marine painters, who worked in the tradition of the van de Veldes and the other Dutch artists who came to practice in London from the 1670s. His reputation chiefly rests on his topographical views of London but he was a very good marine painter, who accepted commissions like this and whose artistic and social skills eclipsed - at least in business terms - those of his slightly earlier contemporary Peter Monamy. He was notably averse to traveling by sea himself but produced many small drawings and watercolors to be incorporated later as details into his oils, such as men rowing and unloading boats, and often drew his ships from models.

More information and details is given on the following sites:
NUESTRA SENORA CAVADONGA: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10197&p=10627#p10627
CENTURION: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11194

https://collections.rmg.co.uk/collectio ... 11852.html
Turks and Caicos Islands 1983 8c sg 771, Scott ?
Attachments
Capture of the 'Nuestra Señora de Cavadonga' by the 'Centurion', 20 June 1743.jpg
Capture of the 'Nuestra Señora de Cavadonga' by the 'Centurion', 20 June 1743.jpg (58.61 KiB) Viewed 487 times
Image (29).jpg
Image (29).jpg (79.18 KiB) Viewed 487 times

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