Here we see the Russian fleet, headed by Commander-in-Chief Count Alexey Orlov and Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Greig, gaining victory over the Turkish squadron in the Bay of Chesme in the Aegean Sea on the night of 7th July 1770. The central episode in the battle was the explosion of the 100-gun Turkish flagship of Ibrahim Hasameddin, visible in the depth of the painting, surrounded by ships of the Russian squadron. In the foreground we see the 66-gun ship "The Three Hierarchs"; amongst the officers on board is Orlov himself. The painting was commissioned in Rome in 1770 by Ivan Shuvalov at the request of Catherine II. In depicting the battle, the artist made use of the advice of Count Orlov and Sir Samuel Greig, as well as specially produced plans of the Bay of Chesme and the location of the two squadrons. In order that Hackert, who was not present at the battle, could imagine the scene, a Russian ship was exploded in the port of Livorno. In 1772 the painting was sent to St Petersburg together with Turkish military trophies and shown to Catherine II, after which it entered the Winter Palace.