The 'Hero' Returns on a Moonlit Night (circa 1783) Print

In 1781, Admiral Suffren led a squadron of French navy ships to challenge British supremacy in the Indian Ocean. En-route, he attacked a British convoy in Porto Praya, Cape Verde Islands on April 16, which upset British plans to seize control of the Cape of Good Hope. Ile de France was a French possession in the Indian Ocean and became Suffren's main base of operations. In 1782-83, Suffren fought five inconclusive actions off India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) against the British Royal Navy squadron commanded by Admiral Sir Edward Hughes (1720-94. These battles took place off Sadras (Feb 17), Providien (Apr 12), Negapatam (Jul 6), Trincomalee (Sep 3) and Cuddalore (Apr 20, 1783). Suffren was a brilliant naval tactician and usually 'gave better than he got' but he was unable to score a decisive victory, largely because he was ineffective in communicating with his more cautious ship captains during the heat of battle. The signature of a peace treaty between Great Britain and France in 1783 brought the war to an end. The ‘Hero’ was Admiral Suffren’s Flagship, a 74-gun Third Rate ship of the line. In this painting, the ‘Hero’ is shown approaching the Northern coast of Ile-de-France (modern-day Mauritius) which is visible on the horizon. The small Gibraltar- shaped island on the left is Gunner’s Quoin (or ‘Coin de Mire’ in French), one of several small islands off the Northern tip of Mauritius.

Print:Giclee on Fine Art Paper

Size:8 W x 10 H x 0.1 D in

Size with Frame:13.25 W x 15.25 H x 1.2 D in

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