Beschreibung:

LOUIS DODD (British, 1943-2006): CSS Florida Arriving off the neutral port of Funchal, Madeira also showing USS St Louis at Anchor February 1864, an exceptional oil on board (1996) 35½ins x 23ins. In the art world, there are many good contemporary painters, but few great ones. Englishman Louis Dodd was one of those few. Connoisseur Magazine stated, "Dodd is a painter of 17th and 18th century marine art, both ship portraiture and port cities. His ability is unsurpassed" Built by William C Miller and Sons of Liverpool CSS Florida started life as the Oreto. The ship was launched in March 1862 and headed for Nassau carrying neither guns nor ammunition as the intention was to fit her out with necessary armament whilst in harbour there. In the early part of August Oreto received the armaments and most of the equipment required to equip her as a commercial raider: then, on 17th August Oreto was commissioned into the Confederate States Navy as CSS Florida. Nonetheless she was still under-crewed and without some vital equipment necessary for the operation of her guns. Florida now headed for Mobile Alabama which she achieved but not without damage as she when she was fired on by Federal ships blockading the harbour. Finally after necessary repairs and receiving her missing equipment, Florida embarked on her first mission in January 1863. Late summer saw Florida in Brest, France for repairs but she finally left Brest on 10th February 1864 and headed for Funchal in Madeira. Already anchored in Funchal was the Federal Sloop of War St Louis with Captain Preble in command. This was not Preble's first sighting of the now notorious Florida as he had been Captain of the Oneida one of the ships that had fired on her during her hazardous run into Mobile. The St Louis could not match Florida for speed at sea and with pursuit out of the question Captain Preble determined that he should not fire upon Florida at Funchal as doing so would violate Portuguese neutrality. Florida therefore left Funchal unmolested and recommenced her raiding activities almost straight away as one of the Confederate Navy's most successful raiders. Florida was finally attacked and captured by Federal ships in Brazilian waters and escorted North to the Hampton Roads where she sank on 28th November 1864. St Louis continued to serve until she was finally de-commissioned by the US Navy in 1906. For further reading see The Confederate Raiders by Thomas and Sean Coughlin illustrated by Louis Dodd