HMS Howe at Malta by Giovanni Schranz NMM NMMG BHC3411

HMS 'Howe' at Malta, by Giovanni Schranz. National Maritime Museum. Oil painting, previously attributed as 'John Schranz', but Giovanni is the style now generally used. The ship is shown in port broadside view, from slightly off the bow, looking seaward, with a dghaisa to the left and what is probably Fort St Angelo, with its distinctive turret on the waterfront bastion, rear right. There is no visible signature and while a decorative, boldly colourful and competent ship portrait, the rather solid handling suggests it may be by Schranz pupil or follower rather than definitely by him. The 'Howe' shown -though the identity needs confirmation- is presumably the 120-gun three-decker of 1815 broken up in 1854, since her successor of 1860 was never fitted for sea service. [PvdM 10/16] Date probably 1843.