Lot 123: Gregorio Ferro , Santa Maria de Lamas 1744 - 1812 Madrid The Armada of 1779: Four Scenes from the American War of Independence all oil on canvas

two signed and dated lower left Ferro 1788 one inscribed: EMBARCO DE TROPAS ARTILLERAIY VIVERES/EN ELPVUERTO DE BREST PARA INVADIRA/INGLATERRA [Loading of troops, artillery, and supplies in Port Brest, preparing to invade England]; another inscribed: PERSIGVEN LAS ARMADAS CAMBENADAS DE ESPANA Y FRANCIA/EN EL CANAL DE INGLATERRA ALA ARMADA INGLESA QVE HVYEA/TODO TRAPO RENDIENDO DOS FRAGATAS EL NAVIO EL ARDIENTE [In the English Channel the combined armadas of Spain and France chase the English armada, which flees and surrenders two frigates to the ship Ardiente]; another inscribed: SE VNEN LOS NAVIOS DEL/REY CON LA ARMADA FRAN-/CESA A LA VISTA DE LA CORVÑA [The King's fleet joins forces with the French armada in the view of La Coruña]; another inscribed: SALEN HUIENDO DESPAVORIDAS LAS GEN-/TES DEL PVERTO DE PLIMOVTH A VISTA/DE LAS ARMADAS DE FRANCIA Y ESPAÑA [The people of Plymouth flee in terror at the sight of the armadas of France and Spain] all oil on canvas Quantity: 4

measurements note two: 11 1/2 by 21 3/4 in.; 29.2 by 55.3 cm. two: 11 1/2 by 33 1/4 in.; 29.2 by 84.5 cm.

With Richard L. Feigen & Co., New York;
From whom acquired by the present owners.

PROPERTY FROM A CORPORATE COLLECTION, NEW JERSEY
These paintings depict four episodes concerning the so-called Armada of 1779, a joint French and Spanish fleet formed with the intent of invading England, a part of the wider conflict sparked by the American Revolution. On April 12, 1779, France signed a secret treaty with Spain to wage war against England. They planned to take advantage of the fact that Britain's Royal Navy was dispersed between America and the West Indies and in a weakend state. France had already allied itself with the Americans in 1778 and the Spanish, though not openly in support of America, hoped to regain certain territories from England, most notably the port of Gibraltar. The plan was set that, in May 1779, the two fleets would rendezvous, sail into the English Channel and destroy the British Home Fleet. A base would then be set up on the Isle of Wight or the mainland coast. The plan was ultimately unsuccessful and by September, with crews undersupplied and depleted by outbreaks of typhus and smallpox, the campaign was abandoned. Another painting that appears to be from this same series is in the collection of the Museo de Pontevedra, Pontevedra, Spain (see Fig. 1). That painting is also signed Ferro and dated 1788 and depicts Charles III Giving the Order for the Declaration of War Against England (oil on canvas, 43 by 28 cm.).