A British second rate ship of the line, flying the ensign of an admiral of the blue squadron, at anchor off Corfu

Joseph Schranz was born at Port Mahon, Minorca, and was one of three artist sons of the painter Anton Schranz (1769 - 1839). He moved to Malta with his parents in 1818 and is known to have visited Corfu at least twice, in 1826 with his brother Giovanni, and once again in 1840, by which time he had settled permanently in Constantinople. The last documented record of him is a lithograph of the British fleet in Malta dated 1853, published by J. Schranz and A. Percheron, Constantinople.

The vessel in this picture has previously been identified as the H.M.S. Revenge. This identification is doubtful as the H.M.S. Revenge (painted by William Adolphus Knell in 1859, National Maritime Museum no. BHC3583) was a 'ninety-one gunner' and the vessel in this picture, which would appear to have been accurately portrayed, has approximately eighty-four guns. Schranz may have painted this picture during or shortly after his vistit to Corfu in 1840.

We are grateful to Ian Bouskill for his assistance in compiling this catalogue entry.