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The Piazza at Havana

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The Piazza at Havana
ArtistDominic Serres
Yearc.1762-1770
TypeOil on canvas
LocationNational Maritime Museum, London

The Piazza at Havana is a landscape painting by the French-born British artist Dominic Serres.[1] It depicts the scene during the British occupation of Havana in Cuba following Britain's capture of the city from Spain during the Seven Years' War.[2] British troops in redcoats are shown parading in the Plaza Vieja while British sailors are in the foreground. Serres painted a series of works focusing on the taking of Havana for the Keppel family, three of whom led the British campaign.[3][4] The title uses the Italian loan word piazza, common in English during the era, rather than the Spanish plaza.

The Cathedral at Havana, a companion piece.

Today it is part of the collection of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich in London. It was one of a pair with The Cathedral at Havana a depiction of Havana Cathedral, both showing the city after it had fallen into British hands.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mancini p.84
  2. ^ Russett p.61
  3. ^ Sea and Land: An Environmental History of the Caribbean p.113
  4. ^ https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-11910
  5. ^ https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-11910

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Mancini, J.M. Art and War in the Pacific World: Making, Breaking, and Taking from Anson's Voyage to the Philippine-American War. University of California Press, 2018.
  • Morgan, Philip D. McNeill, John Robert, Mulcahy, Matthew & Schwartz Stuart B. Sea and Land: An Environmental History of the Caribbean. Oxford University Press, 2022.
  • Russett, Alan. Dominic Serres, R.A., 1719-1793: War Artist to the Navy. Antique Collectors' Club, 2001.
  • Schneider, Elena A. The Occupation of Havana: War, Trade, and Slavery in the Atlantic World. UNC Press Books, 29 Oct 2018.