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Titolo dell'opera:
Naval battle between Russians and Swedes
Acquisizione:
Fabio Garelli 1922 - donazione
Autore:
Anonimo
Object Type:
painting
Epoca:
Inventario:
193
Misure:
Unità di misura: cm; Altezza: 59; Larghezza: 102
Tecnica:
olio su tela
Descrizione:
During the Russo-Swedish War that broke out in 1788, two fleets from these nations faced each other off the coast of Hogland Island in the Gulf of Finland on 17 July. The two fleets were roughly equal in strength, with a total of about 50 ships and frigates.
The objective of King Gustav III of Sweden was to eliminate the Russian Baltic fleet, or at least block it in its ports of Reval (now Tallinn) and Kronstadt, while simultaneously launching a land attack to conquer St. Petersburg. The Russians suffered the most casualties - about 600 dead compared to 200-300 Swedish - but were strategically successful, as they prevented the attack on St. Petersburg. The war would end two years later without any particular geopolitical consequences, but with thousands of deaths, mainly Russian. The painting depicts two fleets of ships at sea ready for battle.
