Battle of Boston Harbor, USS Chesapeake and HMS Shannon, by Isiah Whyte

Battle of Boston Harbor, USS Chesapeake and HMS Shannon, by Isiah Whyte.

This painting is unique among Isiah Whyte’s paintings for a number of reasons. First, all of the other surviving examples of Whyte’s works are ship’s portraits of American war vessels, this is the only battle scene known to exist. It is also his only known double pane reverse glass painting, something that makes it not only rare for the artist but also among reverse glass paintings in general, most are single pane. Finally, all of his glass works have the sails in black silhouette; this is the only example of his glass work in full color and detail.
The first pane includes the CHESAPEAKE and an overlay of darker green tones in the sea along with the black and gilt églomisé painted mat. The second pane depicts the SHANNON and a lighter blue toned sea. Both glass plates sit above a softly painted watercolor background on paper. Whyte left clever lightly or unpainted areas in the front panel, allowing the lower panel details to show through, a technique which gives the work a great deal of depth and vitality.
This layering technique creates a striking image of the two ships firing their cannon broadsides at close range, the smoke so thick that each ship can hardly see the other. The fighting crew of CHESAPEAKE covers the deck while a few others stand on yardarms high above to scout the SHANNON’s condition and adjust sails.
As is typical of Whyte’s works, the painting is signed on a glass panel on the reverse painted side, so when looking at the painting the signature appears backward.

Side note: CHESAPEAKE’s flag; the ship was known to have entered this battle sailing a white flag adorned with the motto of the War of 1812, “Free Trade and Sailor’s Rights”.