Object number

LDVAL 530

Date

c. 1750

Physical description

Half length portrait of a middle-aged man turned to his right. He is wearing a pink silk single-breasted waistcoat, over which is a dusky pink velvet jacket with pink silk lining to match the waistcoat. He wears a white cravat around his neck. Tucked under his left arm is a black tricorn hat. He wears a grey wig which has a low quiff on top and is waved over each ear. The background over his right shoulder shows a naval scene with a cloudy sky. The flagship is flying a red ensign, one of the three national colours used to distinguish the various squadrons of a battle fleet and indicate the seniority of their commanders until Trafalgar, when Nelson ordered all his ships to wear a white ensign to avoid confusion with the French.

Condition

Notes

Joseph Highmore (1692 - 1780) Joseph Highmore studied at Kneller’s Academy and was a polished portraitist by the 1720’s. After 1730, his work became more Rococo in its style. From 1743 to 1744, he made a series of twelve illustrations for his friend, Samuel Richardson’s novel Pamela. IN 1762, Highmore abandoned painted, retired to Canterbury, and devoted himself to writing

Type

oil painting

Size

Wholw height: 930mm
width: 820mm
Canvas height: 740mm
width: 605mm

Collection type

Fine Art, Fanshawe Portraits

Objects that are not on display in the museum can be viewed by appointment at the discretion of the Museum Curator. To find out more about accessing the collection please email: valencehousemuseum@lbbd.gov.uk or telephone: 020 8227 2034

Gallery

Metadata
Start date	c. 1750
Institution	Valence House Museum
Type	oil painting
Collection type	Fine Art Fanshawe Portraits