Early 19^th century

Watercolour on wove paper

Original backboard inscribed with initials ‘H.I.R.M. [?]’

53.8 by 26.3 cm.

As a reaction to the Spanish for their departure from neutrality in the Seven Years War against the French, the British siege of Havana in 1762 lasted from March to August and led to much destruction in the city. By February of the following year, as part of the Treaty of Paris, the city had been returned to the Spanish, the British acquiring Florida as part of the settlement.

The rebuilding of Havana began and the numerous buildings that can be seen in this painting lining the Malecon, the waterfront road to the right of the mouth of the harbour entrance, suggest that this view was taken once this recovery was well under way.