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1958-2,A&B, Painting
Sir Peter Parker's Attack against Fort Moultrie
1958-2,A&B, Painting

Sir Peter Parker's Attack against Fort Moultrie

Date1782-1791
Artist/Maker James Peale (1749-1831)
OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsUnframed (excluding aluminum lip-over molding): 20 1/2 x 29 7/16in. (52.1 x 74.8cm) and Framed: 23 1/4 x 32 7/16in.
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1958-2,A&B
DescriptionA marine scene showing a group of at least five British warships afloat in the righthand half of the composition, one of them firing at near point-blank range at a low-walled fort on an adjacent island occupying the lefthand half of the composition. The horizon line is shown about a third up from the bottom edge, creating a sizable expanse of water in the foreground. The fort, which returns the ship's fire, flies a blue flag with a white crescent moon in the canton. Two trees, one a palm, tower above the fort (another palm is partially visible at far left, outside the walls of the fort). Thick black smoke fills the air in the lefthand half of the composition.

The 1 1/2-inch molded, gilded, cyma recta frame is now overpainted with yellow and appears to be a nineteenth-century replacement; it does not match the frame on 1958-1.



Label TextThe title of the painting and the date of the battle—June 28, 1776—are inscribed on the back of the canvas in James Peale’s own handwriting. The approximately ten-hour engagement took place when the British attempted to capture Charleston, South Carolina. The fort, incomplete at the time, was under the command of Colonel William Moultrie. American losses were small at about thirty-five casualties with twelve deaths, while the British casualties were reported as 205. After refitting the surviving ship Bristol, the British command left the area and sailed to New York.
A similar scene of the battle, barely perceptible, appears in the background of Charles Willson Peale’s 1782 portrait of Colonel William Moultrie owned by the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. It is believed that James Peale created the scene displayed here during the same year. See also the information on the Attack, Engagement, Defeat pictures in this exhibition.

InscribedThe reverse of the primary support, now covered by a lining canvas, is photo-documented as being inscribed in [black? paint?] in upright script: "Sir Peter Parker's attack against Fort Moultrie, June 28, 1776." N. B. The date in the photo of the inscription is illegible and, here, is taken from conservator Sheldon Keck's transcription of it. The handwriting is reputedly James Peale's.
ProvenanceEx. Coll.: Francis and Eleanor Millar Bailey; their daughter Abigal who married John Hough James; their son, John Henry James, married Harriet Lynch, their daughter, Margaret Lynch James (unmarried) was the last surviving James and owner of this painting. Bailey (born ca. 1735), who was official printer to the Continental Congress and for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with his main office in Philadelphia. In 1781 he bagan to edit THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL or NORTH AMERICAN INTELLIGENCER.
Exhibition(s)