USS Constitution vs HMS Java, After the Battle

View Similar Items

Gabriel Riesnert - Ciel d'été, Original Oil Painting, Landscape, Tree, Ready to hang

Francien Krieg - Metus Mortis

Tim Snowdon - Lemons with bowl & lime, classic still life oil painting by Tim Snowdon

Dan Schultz - Hillside Oaks

Katerina Hatzi - Crucifixion

Katerina Hatzi - Breaking the waves

Michel Brosseau - "Verde in View" a photorealist oil painting, overlooking a vibrant green boat

Michel Brosseau - "Calm Water" a photorealist oil painting of three small boats resting

Michel Brosseau - "Oyster Catcher" a photorealist oil painting, a festive fisherman's boat

Michel Brosseau - "Classic White (O)" photorealist oil painting of a detailed Sail's Canvas

Michel Brosseau - "Alabama Looking On" a photorealist oil painting, shore horizon with sailboats

Michel Brosseau - "Bouees Bleues" a photorealist close up view of bouees in tones of blue

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 5

Maarten Platje
USS Constitution vs HMS Java, After the Battle
2018

About the Item

The clash between USS Constitution and HMS Java was the third American frigate victory of the War of 1812 and in many ways the most significant. In the two previous clashes, between the Constitution and the Guerriere in August and the United States and the Macedonian in October, the British had been very badly outgunned and outmanned. In contrast, the Java was a well manned and well gunned ship. In December 1812 she was on her way to India, carrying the new governor of Bombay, his staff, and 100 extra sailors being sent to the East Indies as reinforcements. This gave her a crew of just over 400 compared to the 475 on the Constitution. The Constitution had sailed from Boston in late October under the command of Captain William Bainbridge, to cruise in southern waters. The clash with the Java came off the coast of Brazil. The fighting began at 2.00pm with a long-range artillery duel. The Constitution’s wheel was shot away, and at one point she was raked from the stern, but her heavy construction allowed her to absorb the damage. She was soon back under control, and after 40 minutes began to close on the British ship. The Java took heavy damage as the two ships approached and was then overwhelmed at close range. Her captain, Henry Lambert, was mortally wounded by rifle fire from the Constitution’s masts, and the Java suffered over 100 casualties before she struck her flag after a two-hour fight. The Java was too badly damaged to take as a prize, and so on the day after the battle she was sunk. This time the British could not blame a lack of men. They had inflicted more damage on the American ship than in either of the previous battles (the Constitution took 34 casualties), but the battle had demonstrated that a single British frigate, never mind how well manned, could not defeat one of three American 44-gun frigates. The clash between the Constitution and the Java was the last of the single-frigate duels of the War of 1812. The Admiralty ordered single frigates not to take on the bigger American ships, built their own big gun frigates, and imposed a blockade on the American coast. The next time the American frigates got to sea, the war was nearly over. These early naval victories had very little long-term impact on the war itself, but they did have a big impact in Britain, triggering a wave of self-examination which jolted the navy out of its post-Trafalgar complacency.

Creator:
Maarten Platje (1967, Dutch)
Creation Year:
2018
Dimensions:
Height: 23.63 in (60.03 cm)Width: 31.63 in (80.35 cm)
Medium:
Oil,Linen
Movement & Style:
Realist
Period:
2010-
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Greenwich, CT
Reference Number:
Seller: MP1810141stDibs: LU1815477562