The Saints are a group of small islets in the West Indies between Guadeloupe and Dominica. They gave their name to the final sea battle of the War of American Independence, 1775-83, which was fought under their lee between the British West Indies fleet commanded by Admiral Sir George Rodney, with 36 ships of the line, and his French counterpart, Vice-Admiral the Comte de Grasse with 30 ships of the line. De Grasse had sailed from Fort Royal, Martinique, with a trade convoy and a large military force. Having dispatched the former for Europe he aimed to move on to attack the British island of Jamaica. Rodney, watching from St Lucia, pursued him and fought a running action off Dominica on 9 April, concluding with a victorious set-piece battle south-west of the Saints three days later. The latter is chiefly remembered for introducing the tactic of 'breaking the line'. This Rodney did against de Grasse as the two fleets passed on opposing courses and the French line was forced into more open order by a change of wind. Rodney led the way through a gap, casting the enemy into disorder by engaging from the opposite side. The tactic was subsequently adopted in the Navy as a desirable addition to fighting instructions.

The painting shows the 'Barfleur' in action in the centre, pouring a broadside from her starboard guns into the stricken French flagship, 'Ville de Paris'. The latter is to the right, striking her colours, with both ships in starboard-quarter view. 'Barfleur' flies the red distinguishing flag of Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood at the mizzen, a red ensign at the stern, and a red signal flag at the fore. In the extreme right foreground is the stern of another surrendered Frenchman. In the left foreground a boat full of cheering sailors is pulling over to take possession of a dismasted Frenchman on the extreme left. On the left and considerably beyond is Rodney's 'Formidable', in starboard-quarter view, firing her starboard guns into a Frenchman, seen in port-bow view with a missing foremast. The French ship 'Ardent', 64 guns, is visible on the far right flying the red ensign over French colours to indicate it has been captured. The 'Ardent' was built at Hull in 1764 and captured by the French in 1779. Following her recapture at this battle she was renamed 'Tiger'. Across the background are other ships in action.

Whitcombe was born in London in about 1752 and painted ship portraits, battle scenes, harbour views and ships in storms. Although his output was vast, little is known about him. He produced a large number of subjects from the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793-1815, and exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1783 and 1824. His depiction of ships implies specific knowledge of life at sea, although he probably spent most of his career in London. Many of his works were engraved and they included 50 plates to James Jenkins's account of 'The Naval Achievements of Great Britain', published in 1817. The painting is one of a pair with BHC0445 and is signed and dated 'T.Whitcombe 1782'.