Battle of the Saints

This watercolor depicts one of the most important naval battles of the American War of Independence. At the Battle of the Saints, the British fleet engaged the French off the coast of Dominica, in the Caribbean. It was a popular subject for commemoration, a major triumph at a time when British defeat on American soil appeared inevitable. To accurately describe the battle, Pocock relied on firsthand accounts of naval officers. He heightens the emotion of the scene by depicting the moment victory is ensured, as the British flagship breaks through the line of French ships, firing on their vanguard (2022).