Commodore Edward Prebble's Attack on Tripoli in Africa with the American Squadron the Constiution Frigate, the Brigs Arcus, Vixen, Nautilus, Siren & July, 1804.

This original watercolor is an apparent copy of an engraving produced by the Italian publisher John B. Guerrazzi in 1805 that depicts a squadron of the United States Navy headed by Commodore Edward Preble (1761-1807), Captain of the U.S. frigate Constitution, attacking Tripoli, which, with the rest of the Barbary States, had declared war on the fledging country in 1801.

The artist of this rendering is likely Dr. Andrew Croswell (1778-1858), a graduate of Harvard University who lived in Mercer, Maine. As indicated by the inscription on the back of the frame, he likely gave it as a gift to his daughter, Susan Cony Croswell (1810-1888) and the 'March 17 1853' date on the lower left of the picture could refer to the date of the gift.