The taking of Porto Bello by Vice Admiral Vernon on the 22d of Nov. 1739 with Six Men of War only PW4572, Peter Monamy, circa 1745

The taking of porto bello by vice admiral vernon on the 22d of nov. 1739 with six men of war only pw4572 paf4572 hand-coloured. The engraver's inscription lower right identifies this as taken from one of monamy's paintings decorating the supper boxes at vauxhall gardens, opened in the early 1740s. Monamy's contributions there no longer survive but a number of rustic and similar figure subjects by francis hayman do. Monamy painted various versions of the capture of porto bello based on drawings by captain philip durell, one of his patrons, who was present under vernon. A small oil (635 x 863 mm / 25 x 34 in) from a higher bird's-eye viewpoint than that shown here was sold at christie's, london on 15 may 1997, lot 328, as by samuel scott (presumably since similar to scott's large version, nmm bhc0354) and resold at bonham's, london, as 'studio of peter monamy' on 15 april 2015, lot 111. [pvdm 4/15] materials etching, coloured measurements sheet: 304 x 438 mm; mount: 404 mm x 558 mm. Date: circa 1745.