A representation of a late-18th or early 19th century frigate action, at dusk or in otherwise dark conditions, with a French vessel in the foreground with her mizzen upper masts shot away and a British one beyond on the right. Another ship is approaching in the left distance. The Union flags the British frigate is (inaccurately) flying are post-1801 pattern, but the general intention is to show an action of the French wars of 1793-1815. Although previously recorded as circa 1800 in date - which is fine for the subject - the manner of painting is late-19th or early 20th-century, not contemporary with the event, and a little reminiscent of that of Thomas Somerscales. However, the canvas is simply signed BRICHTA in red, lower right. This is apparently a Czech or otherwise Central European name in origin, but nothing more is yet known of the artist. The picture was presented to the Society for Nautical Research for the Museum in 1931.