Elias Durnford
Early View of HAVANA HARBOR, Cuba
1764

About

Elias Durnford (English 1739-1794) "A View of the Entrance of the Harbour of Havanna (sic), taken from within the Wrecks." (Title also in French and Spanish), Engraving. Drawn by Elias Durnford, Engineer - Engraved by Peter Canot London, Published according to an Act of Parliament, August 1764 by Thos. Jeffreys, the corner of St. Martins Lane. From the First Edition prior to the John Bowles edition of 1768. Rare thus. Engraving plate 14 5/8 x 21 inches, sheet with wide margins. 19 x 25 inches. Rare. The Library of Congress example is trimmed within the plate mark. Durnford, Elias Walker, 1739 -1794, artist.Canot, Peter, 1710-1777, engraver. The area within the plate mark including the image is in generally good condition. Some possible rubbing or miss printing along the right edge of image. Some mild toning to the sheet. The margins with discoloration, remnants of mounting on the recto margins and associated losses. Remnants of backing sheet on most of the verso. But overall the image and title lines are good. Text from the Library of Congress.. "Print shows a battleship being towed by men in rowboats, a boat under sail, and men in rowboats in the harbor, with the masts of ships sunk at the entrance of the harbor. Includes numbered key showing: 1. The signal house in the Morro; 2. Apostles Battery; 3. Shepherds Battery; 4. The Cavannos; 5. Ships sunk in the entrance of the harbour; 6. Man of war towing out between the wrecks; 7. Ft. Punta; 8. Nth Bastion" From John Carter Brown Library "Elias Durnford, an engineer, was appointed surveyor-general of British West Florida in 1764. The British captured Havana in 1762 at the end of the Seven Years War only to trade it back to Spain in exchange for Florida eleven months later. The Spanish scuttled three warships in the harbor to prevent the British warships from entering. From Lord Russburough Annex: "Spain’s involvement in the Seven Years War (1756-1763) began when Charles III of Spain declared war against England in January 1762. The British responded by sending an expedition of 15,000 regular and colonial soldiers from Canada to capture Cuba. England’s naval supremacy had already given her the upper hand in the West Indies, and in June a large British fleet landed an army near Havana. Lieut. General Elias Walker Durnford RE, 1739 - 1794, was engaged in the siege of Havana (Habana Vieja) and capture of the fort at the harbour mouth known as Castillo Del Morro, the latter being the key to taking the city" Havana, Cuba, Latin America, Birds Eye View, Spanish, Maps

Details

Artist
Elias Durnford (1739 - 1794, English)
Creation Year
1764
Medium
Engraving

Movement & Style
Old Masters
Condition
Fair
Period
1760-1769

Dimensions
H 14.625 in. x W 21 in.H 37.15 cm x W 53.34 cm
Gallery Location
Santa Monica, CA
Reference Number
LU41135441502

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