Name/Title
The Attack on Fort MoultrieEntry/Object ID
1976.1.4Description
Lt. William Elliott (English, d.1792)
Attack on Fort Moultrie
Probably England
1784/1792
Oil on canvas
The Abortive British Attack on Fort Moultrie. Plate on Painting Reads "Charlestowne South Carolina. the Abortive Attack of Fort Moultrie 26th June 1776, By a Brisith Naval Force Under Commodore Sir Peter Parker Consisting of Hms Bristol, Active, Experiment, Solebay, Actaeo, Syren, Sphinx and Bomb Vessel Thunder. Lt. Wm. Elliott, Rn, Fl 1784-1792. Honorable Exhibitor At the Royal Academy." the Gilded Frame Is Cyma-Shaped with Two Rows of Decorative Moulding.
Purchased from The Parker Gallery in 1976, it was their research that identified the ships in the painting, therefore establishing its significance in Charleston history. In a letter from Parker Gallery Director Bertram Newbury to Frances Edmunds he writes: "I understand you were interested to know how the painting was identified and this was possible because the names of the ships taking part were painted on their sterns, by the artist Lieutenant W. Elliot who was undoubtedly present at the action. The practice of painting the names on ships was discontinued by the British Navy for a short time after this but was re-introduced for identification purposes during the Napoleonic Wars."
In a subsequent letter from Mrs. Edmunds to members of the Edmonston-Alston House Committee she writes:
"After long negotiations with the Parker Galleries in London, last week we purchased for the Edmonston-Alston House an oil painting - The Attack on Fort Moultrie by Lieutenant W. Elliot...We have raised over half the purchase price of 4300 pounds..."Artwork Details
Medium
Oil on CanvasSubject
The Abortive British Attack on Fort Moultrie. Plate on Painting Reads "Charlestowne South Carolina. the Abortive Attack of Fort Moultrie 26th June 1776, By a Brisith Naval Force Under Commodore Sir Peter Parker Consisting of Hms Bristol, Active, Experiment, Solebay, Actaeo, Syren, Sphinx and Bomb Vessel Thunder. Lt. Wm. Elliott, Rn, Fl 1784-1792. Honorable Exhibitor At the Royal Academy." the Gilded Frame Is Cyma-Shaped with Two Rows of Decorative Moulding.Collection
Historic Charleston Foundation CollectionLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
PaintingNomenclature Class
ArtNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsLOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
BattleshipsSearch Terms
Charleston Harbor (S.C.), Forts and fortifications, Fort Moultrie (S.C.)Other Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
Old NumberOther Number
76.1.3 EADimensions
Height
31-1/2 inWidth
44 inDimension Notes
frame= 2.5" by 3.25"Location
Location
Building
Anderson House* Untyped Location
Washington, DCCategory
ExhibitMoved By
Long, J. GrahameDate
March 30, 2023Notes
See paperwork in fileLocation
Room
103Building
Nathaniel Russell HouseCategory
PermanentDate
February 7, 2023Moved By
Jonathan H. PostonDate
October 13, 1999Notes
Until: 11/01/1999Moved By
Jonathan H. PostonDate
October 13, 1999Notes
Until: 11/01/1999Location
Room
103Building
Nathaniel Russell HouseMoved By
Robert LeathDate
August 1, 1997Notes
Until: 10/13/1999Location
Building
Loan to Gibbes Museum of ArtMoved By
J. Thomas SavageDate
January 1, 1996Notes
Until: 08/01/1997
Notes: ExhibitLocation
Building
Loan to Gibbes Museum of ArtMoved By
J. Thomas SavageDate
January 1, 1996Notes
Until: 08/01/1997Location
Building
ON LOAN TO EDMONDSTON-ALSTON HOUSEMoved By
Frances R. EdmundsDate
December 30, 1976Notes
Reason: Loan
Authorized By: Francis Edmunds
Until: 01/01/1992Condition
Overall Condition
GoodNotes
Conditioned and Revarnished in 1970s. Frame Has Several Chips. Canvas Has One Indentation.Conservation
Conservation Purpose
Damage RepairTreatment
Acute Treatment
StabilizationProvenance
Provenance Detail
Purchase from The Parker GalleryAcquisition Method
PurchaseAcquisition Date
Nov 17, 1976General Notes
Note
Notes: Photographs of condition are in file, taken summer 2002.
Photographed and reproduced on larger scale for use in the motion picture, "The Patriot."
Large scale reproduction was given to HCF and now hangs in the Charleston County Historic Courthouse at 89 Broad Street.
Status: OK
Location Details1: 1Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
June 3, 1998Updated By
bbellafiore@historiccharleston.orgUpdate Date
March 24, 2026
