[4] The death of Spanish Army officer José de Barboza is the focal point of the painting.

[4] He is portrayed as rejecting the aid of General George Eliott, commander of the British garrison in Gibraltar.

[4] In 1782, the siege was lifted, and Trumbull's friend Antonio de Poggi, an artist and dealer based in London who had been in the besieged garrison, told him of an earlier incident, which had occurred in November 1781.

[5] This had all the ingredients he sought: ...the Heroism of the vanquished, the Humanity of the Victors - the darkness of night illuminating an extensive conflagration - the Hurry and Tumult of the troops busy in the work of destruction - the quiet & calm of the Officers, the guiding Spirits of the Scene.

He saw the subject of the Siege as one with which he could demonstrate that he supported British heroism as well: ...and as I knew by painting them [his American history paintings], I had given offense to some extra-patriotic people in England, I now resolved to exert my utmost talent upon the Gibraltar, to show that noble and generous actions, by whomsoever performed, were the objects to whose celebration I meant to devote myself.