BATTLE OF CAPE ST. VINCENTe
Date: 1842
Painter: Antoine Léon Morel-Fatio
Material: Oil on canvas
Dimension: Width: 3170 mm, Height: 2000 mm
Inventory No.: MM.04611
The battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought on 5 July 1833 between Liberal and Miguelist forces.
The Liberal squadron, under the command of Vice Admiral Charles Napier, faced the Miguelist squadron off Cape St. Vincent. The Miguelists were taken by surprise when Napier decided to approach the enemy directly, refusing a naval artillery combat.
In this painting by Antoine Léon Morel-Fatia (1842), we can see, in the centre and foreground, the frigate 'Rainha de Portugal', commanded by Napier, after boarding the ship 'Rainha de Portugal' (with the white pennant of Dom Miguel). This was the last naval combat fought between Portuguese Navy sail ships.
This work became part of the Maritime Museum's collection in 1941, after the death of its owner, the widow of Prince Afonso de Bragança, brother of King Carlos.