"Capture of The Frolic By The Wasp"

1813-1820

Maker

delineator, John James Barralett (1747-1815)
engraver, Samuel Seymour (1775-1832)
publisher, W. H. Morgan

Measurements

Frame: 18-3/8 in x 23-3/8 in x 1-1/4 in; sight, 15 in x 19-7/8 in

Materials

Aquatint on paper

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1959.3600

Inscription

"Capture of H.B.M. Sloop of War FROLIC 22 Guns Capt. Whinyates / By the U.S. Sloop of War WASP 18 Guns. Capt. Jones, / After an action of FORTYFIVE Minutes." is in large type below the image, with "On board the /Wasp / 5 Killed. / 5 Wounded" in a text block on the left and "On board the / FROLIC / 30 Killed / 40 or 50 Wounded" on the right.  In small print immediately below the image, "J. J. Barralett. del." on the left, "Philad.  Publish’d by W. H. Morgan  114 Chestnut Street." in the center, and "S. Seymour sculp." on the right.

Provenance

Ex coll. H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

As stated in the engraved inscriptions below the dramatic scene, the American ship Wasp defeated the slightly better armed English frigate Frolic in a one-hour battle on October 18, 1812, some 200 miles north of Bermuda.  While Jones was repairing the Wasp following the battle, he was captured by H.M.S. Poictiers, another British ship.  Despite this set back, the defeat of the Frolic lifted American spirits during the War of 1812.

Several pictures of the Wasp and Frolic battle were made, including an earlier one engraved by Seymour after an image by Thomas Birch, also of Philadelphia.

The dating of the Barralett/Seymour print ranges between 1813 and 1820 is without particular substantiation.