A historically significant nineteenth-century American maritime painting, unseen on the market for more than forty-five years, is set to headline Wotton Auction Rooms’ Summer Quarterly Fine and Curated Sale today, Tuesday, June 30th.
The painting, The Battle of Cherbourg, June 19th, 1864, depicts one of the most famous naval engagements of the American Civil War: the dramatic confrontation between the Confederate commerce raider CSS Alabama and the Union warship USS Kearsarge off the French coast of Cherbourg.
Executed by a North American School artist during the nineteenth century, the painting captures a pivotal moment in maritime and military history. The Battle of Cherbourg marked the end of the legendary career of the CSS Alabama, whose global campaign against Union merchant shipping had made her one of the most celebrated and controversial vessels of the Civil War. Watched by thousands of spectators gathered along the French coastline, the battle became an international event and remains one of the defining naval encounters of the conflict.
Joseph Trinder of Wotton Auction Rooms said: “This is a painting of exceptional historical interest, depicting one of the most celebrated naval engagements of the American Civil War.
“Its distinguished provenance, long absence from the market and strong connection to a defining moment in nineteenth-century maritime history make it a particularly exciting discovery. We anticipate interest from collectors and institutions on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The composition closely relates to the celebrated contemporary depiction by the renowned French marine artist Louis Le Breton, whose images of the battle became among the most widely circulated visual records of the engagement. As a result, the painting offers not only considerable artistic appeal but also important documentary value as an interpretation of one of the nineteenth century’s most iconic naval actions.
Adding significantly to its desirability is the work’s distinguished provenance. Consigned from a prominent private collection, the painting formerly formed part of the noted J & S Hemming Collection of Bourton-on-the-Water and London. It was last offered publicly at Christie’s, London, in November 1979 and has remained in private hands ever since.
The painting’s re-emergence represents an exceptionally rare opportunity for collectors of American historical art, maritime paintings, Civil War memorabilia and museum-quality works with longstanding private provenance. Fresh-to-market works of this scale, subject matter and historical significance are increasingly scarce, particularly those that have remained absent from public sale for several decades.
The painting will be offered as Lot 602 in Wotton Auction Rooms’ Summer Quarterly Fine and Curated Sale on Tuesday 30 June 2026 at Tabernacle Road, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. It carries a pre-sale estimate of £8,000–£12,000.
For further information or bidding enquiries, please contact Wotton Auction Rooms on +44 (0)1453 844733 or visit www.wottonauctionrooms.co.uk.
