Sea Captains Carousing in Surinam

Sea Captains Carousing in Surinam is an oil painting by John Greenwood made between 1752-1758.

It depicts a humorous scene in a tavern in Surinam, with many merchants and sea captains from Rhode Island enjoying themselves.

The work was commissioned by the subjects while visiting the important trading ports in Surinam in the 1750s, probably for their own amusement.

The subjects in the painting include Nicholas Cooke, sitting at the table smoking a pipe, speaking to Esek Hopkins; Joseph Wanton who has passed out in a chair, and Stephen Hopkins is pouring a drink (perhaps rum punch) from a porcelain bowl onto Wanton's head; and another unidentified figure is vomiting into his pocket.

Among the white merchants are several dark-skinned servants, possibly slaves, wearing few clothes and carrying drinks in large bowls.