The United States Frigate "President" Engaging the British Squadron, 1815

Created in 1850, this work is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The painting measures 71.12 centimeters in height and 106.68 centimeters in width. As a maritime scene by Fitz Henry Lane, the piece falls within the classification of painting and depicts the USS President engaging a British squadron.

The medium of oil on canvas allows for the detailed rendering of the naval encounter, a hallmark of Lane's artistic practice during this period. The physical dimensions and material composition remain consistent with the work's current location at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., having been acquired from the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

The work titled The United States Frigate “President” Engaging the British Squadron was painted by Fitz Henry Lane in 1850, as documented by its inception date and physical dimensions recorded in the catalog. Executed in oil on canvas, the painting entered the market via Kennedy Galleries in New York in 1960, was acquired by the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington the following year, and entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in 2014. Its provenance thus traces a continuous ownership chain from the mid‑twentieth‑century New York dealer to two major American institutions.

Following its tenure with Kennedy Galleries in New York during 1960, the painting was purchased in 1961 by the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington. It remained in that collection until 2014, when it was acquired by the National Gallery of Art, also located in Washington, D.C., where it is currently held. While the work's ownership trajectory from the Corcoran to the National Gallery is documented, the provided records do not list specific inventory numbers, accession codes, or a detailed history of public exhibitions for this piece.

Fitz Henry Lane's 1850 oil on canvas, titled The United States Frigate "President" Engaging the British Squadron, 1815, captures a dramatic naval confrontation. This painting portrays the USS President in battle, a significant event from the War of 1812. Lane created this work decades after the actual engagement, reflecting a persistent interest in American maritime history and national identity during the mid-19th century.

Created in 1850, Lane's painting revisits an event that occurred over three decades prior. This temporal distance highlights the enduring cultural impact of the War of 1812 on American consciousness. The decision to depict this historical battle long after its conclusion suggests a continued fascination with national triumphs and struggles, contributing to the formation of a collective memory and identity in the post-war period.