A coloured lithograph of the first, on 17th October 1854, of several bombardments of the Russian defences of Sebastopol, during the Crimean war, by the Anglo-French fleet. The scene shows various sailing vessels and paddle frigates of the French navy, all seen from a port quarter angle. Cannon smoke billows between the vessels and the land which is just visible in the background. The Russian army is returning fire; spray from cannon balls falling into the water between the ships can be seen. Even after six hours of bombardment, the Anglo-French fleet inflicted relatively little damage on the city, but suffered many casualties themselves. They resumed the offensive the following day, but overnight the Russians had repaired the defences. In 1854 and 1855, the allies carried out seven such bombardments of Sebastopol.