Thomas Birch (English-American, 1779-1851)

Constitution and Guerriere

Offset lithograph print

20 11/16 x 14 1/4 in., framed and matted to 30 7/8 x 24 12 in. 

A riveting depiction of the USS Constitution and the HMS Guerriere mid-battle. The larger ship on the left, the Constitution, has its sails raised and American flags soaring while the ship is actively smoking. The smaller ship on the right, the Guerriere, charges forward, its bowsprit nearly colliding with the Constitution. Fallen sails are in front and behind the Guerriere, foreshadowing its disastrous and fatal ending. 

These two ships battled during the War of 1812 about 400 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Guerriere was initially sailing to Halifax for refitting after having lost its squadron while trying to catch the Constitution. When the two met on 19 August, battle ensued — they exchanged broadsides with Guerriere suffering more damage. Eventually, the ship's masts were felled, and it was reduced to sinking condition. The Constitution took the British soldiers aboard and set their ship on fire, securing a victory for the Americans. 

Born originally in England, Birch came over to America with his father in 1794. The two created a 29-plate collection of engravings in 1800 called Birch's Views of Philadelphia, in which people like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson subscribed to the series. One of his and his father's most famous works is an engraving from ca. 1801 showing the progress made on the U.S. Capitol. After city views, Birch dabbled in portraiture until 1807, when he decided to pivot to marine painting. He exhibited his work several times at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, of which he was also its manager from 1812 to 1817. 

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[Art, Folk Art, Military Art, Etching, Engraving, Lithographs, Prints, Ephemera] [Navy, Naval History, Brown Water Navy, David Glasgow Farragut, David Dixon Porter, Battle of Mobile Bay, Battle of New Orleans, Blockade, Confederate Blockade] [War of 1812, James Madison, Battle of Lake Erie, Battle of Plattsburgh, Fort McHenry, Battle of New Orleans, Treaty of Ghent, Andrew Jackson]