Military
John Benbow (1653-1702), Sir Ralph Delavalle (circa 1645-1707) and Thomas Phillips (circa 1635-1693)
A triple portrait of Thomas Phillips, John Benbow, and Sir Ralph Delavall. It probably relates to British fleet operations against the north coast of France during 1692-93. The officer seated on the left holds a plan of fortifications, and is believed to be Thomas Phillips, the fleet's chief military engineer. Highly distinguished, he was involved with John Benbow at the bombardment of St Malo. He wears a leather coat and breastplate with a red silk drape over his right arm. His portrait was probably painted in 1692-93 before the summer campaign of 1693 from which he did not return. The central figure is John Benbow, Admiral of the White, three-quarter length facing to right. He wears a brown silk robe, a dark brown full bottom wig and holds a quadrant in his right hand. Benbow's early career was in the Merchant Service where he gained a reputation as a seaman and a fighter of Barbary pirates. He entered the navy as captain of the 'York' in 1689 and the following year became master of Admiral Torrington's flagship, a post equivalent to the Navigator of the Fleet. He was involved in the battles of Beachy Head 1690 and also at La Hogue. The figure standing on the right is Sir Ralph Delavalle who was Admiral of the Blue. He is shown three-quarter length and wearing a brown silk coat and dark brown full bottom wig. His right hand rests on a celestial globe holding a pair of dividers. His left hand is on his hip, holding a blue silk drape. He served in the Second and Third Dutch Wars and commanded the 'Constant Warwick' in 1674.
Destruction of the 'Soleil Royal' at the Battle of La Hogue, 23 May 1692
The action at La Hogue in May 1692 formed a crucial scene in the wider context of the Battle of Barfleur, a naval battle of the War of the League of Augsburg, 1689-1697, which was fought between an Anglo-Dutch and a French fleet. It was not finally brought to a conclusion until 24 May in the Bay of La Hogue, in the course of which the French flagship
Admiral Sir George Rooke (1650-1709)
A three-quarter-length portrait to the right of Admiral Sir George Rooke, Admiral of the Fleet. He wears a gold-braided red cloth coat with wide sleeves, grey-brown full-bottomed wig and a white neck-cloth. His right arm rests on the muzzle of a cannon and he holds a telescope in his left hand. Behind him in both the right and left backgrounds, is a depiction of the Battle of Malaga, 1704. Admiral Rooke's flagship, the 'Royal Katharine' with the Union flag at the main, is seen in port-quarter view, engaging the 'Foudroyant', which was the flagship of the Franco-Spanish fleet under the Comte de Toulouse, an illegitimate son of Louis XIV. Though inconclusive, the Battle of Malaga was the only fleet action fought at sea during the War of the Spanish Succession.
A military chart of the marches and encampments of the grand army commanded by Major General Medows from the 26th May to the 14th December 1790
At the beginning of the Third Mysore War the main division of the British army, under Medows, attempted to reach Mysore from the south. Tipu Sultan's much larger army descended through the Gazzalhatty Pass and drove the British back.
The bombardment of Sveaborg, 9 August 1855
A depiction of the Bombardment of Sveaborg, the culmination of the Anglo-French fleet's operations in the Baltic in the second season of the Russian (Crimean) War, 1854-1856. Sveaborg was a fortress guarding the route between St Petersburg and the Baltic Sea, and Helsinki to the east. On 6 August 1855, the Anglo-French fleet led by Admirals Richard S. Dundas in the 'Duke of Wellington' and Charles Penaud in the 'Tourville' arrived at Sveaborg and anchored in formation at an appropriate distance from the fortress, where its outdated guns could not reach them. On the morning of 9 August, they began shelling the fortress. Considerable damage was inflicted on the dockyard and enemy ships and stores. Despite the severity of the bombardment and fire, the action served little military purpose. Public opinion at home was satisfied but the effect on the course of the war against Russia was negligible.
James, Duke of York (1633-1701)
In the tradition of the swagger portrait, this painting is an opulent statement of James's military skills. A full-length, highly coloured Baroque portrait slightly to left, facing to the right in a Roman costume representing Mars, the god of war. He sports a brown full-bottomed wig and gold armour of lapped plates and tassels. He also wears green three-quarter length hose and jewelled sandals, cross-gartered to lion-mask tops.
The Battle of La Hogue, 23 May 1692
The action at La Hogue in May 1692 formed a crucial scene in the wider context of the Battle of Barfleur. This was a naval battle of the War of the League of Augsburg, 1689-1697, fought between an Anglo-Dutch and a French fleet. It was not finally brought to a conclusion until 24 May in the Bay of La Hogue, in the course of which the French flagship.
Rear-Admiral Sir George Cockburn (1772-1853)
Cockburn was one of Nelson's talented frigate captains in the Mediterranean in the 1790s but is best known for his actions during the Anglo-American War of 1812. In 1814 he accompanied the joint naval and military force under Major-General Ross, which after the battle of Bladensburg seized the city of Washington for 24 hours. The public buildings were burnt, including the President's mansion. Its shell had to be painted white on reconstruction to hide the damage and it subsequently became more generally known as the White House. Cockburn provided support and guidance to the army throughout the campaign having become familiar with operations on shore. Ross gave credit to Cockburn for the idea of the attack on Washington although it was part of the strategy of Sir Alexander Cochrane who had become Commander-in-Chief on the North American station early in 1814. Cockburn also accompanied Ross in the advance against Baltimore and was with him during the skirmish on 12 September when Ross was killed. Cockburn's other widely known claim to fame is as the man charged with conveying Napoleon to exile in St Helena in 1815 (in his flagship, the 'Northumberland'), where he remained briefly as Governor and saw the ex-Emperor settled at Longwood, the house built for him there. He subsequently became an MP and was commander-in-chief on the North American station, 1833-36. From 1841 to 1846 he was First Sea Lord and the Navy's well considered adoption of steam technology and other reforms owed a great deal to his firm guidance, which always put professional standards above political considerations. He reached the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in 1851and briefly inherited the family baronetcy the following year.He is shown full length to right wearing rear-admiral's undress coat and hat, 1812-25 pattern, breeches and hessian boots. In the background are the burning Capitol buildings in Washington. This picture or a version was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1817.
An action of the English succession
The painting depicts English and French ships in action. The English ship has tentatively been identified as the 'St David', but there is some confusion as to whether the action depicted is Bantry Bay or another battle during the War of the English Succession. The identity of the artist is unclear: Adriaen van Diest and Willem van de Velde the Younger have been suggested.
'Tycoon's Palace, Yedo (inside the outer moat)' [Tokyo, Japan]
'Tycoon' (great lord) was originally an alternative Japanese term for describing the shogun to foreigners.The Nishinomaru Palace within the Castle of Edo (now Tokyo) had been the seat of the Japanese shogunate (military governing dynasty) since the 17th century - while the emperor was maintained as a symbolic head of state residing in Kyoto. The 15th and last Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, acceded in 1866 but resigned in late 1867 without ever residing at Edo, during the events which precipitated the Boshin War (1868-69) and formal restoration of the Meiji imperial dynasty. In May 1868, the Emperor resumed residence in the Castle of Edo, which became the castle and Imperial Palace of Tokyo when the city's name changed to Tokyo (26 October 1868). The Nishomaru residence was destroyed by fire in 1873 and the site subsequently much altered. Butt therefore saw it at a critical moment, and possibly only because it was not officially occupied at the time. The sentry on the right bears a Western firearm.
The capture of the 'Alcide' and 'Lys', 8 June 1755
On the belief that the French were preparing to build up their military presence in America, in April 1755 an English naval squadron was despatched to America. The aim was to catch the French fleet in a net of British war ships. In charge was Admiral Boscawen who, having received his orders, got his fleet of fourteen ships underway, followed soon afterwards by seven more ships under Admiral Holbourne. By the end of May, 1755, a British war fleet was cruising between the southern coast of Newfoundland and the northern coast of Cape Breton. At the same time, after a considerable delay the French fleet left Brest on May 3rd, 1755. Aboard were 3,000 troops, with Admiral de la Motte in charge of the French fleet which had been dispatched with provisions for the French colonies in North America. In foggy conditions off the Newfoundland Banks, four French warships of de la Motte's fleet became separated from their fleet and were sighted on 6 June and chased. They played hide and seek in the fog until two of them were brought to action and taken. A third that had been sighted and chased and escaped in the fog. Even though war was not officially declared, Boscawen had been ordered to attack any French squadron he met. The French 'Alcide' and 'Lys' were captured which resulted in the first shots of the Seven Years War, 1756-1763. In the foreground of this contemporary painting, the 'Defiance', commanded by Captain Thomas Andrews is firing into the French warship the 'Lys', which is not replying. Between the two ships in the background can be seen the 'Dunkirk'' commanded by Captain the Hon. Richard Howe and the 'Alcide' commanded by Captain de Hocquart. On the left an English merchantman is shown coming towards the viewer.
'Halt! Who goes there?', 1915
'Halt! Who goes there?', 1915. Recruiting poster, artist unknown, World War One, 1915 First World War British infantryman, on sentry duty, holding rifle with fixed bayonet, silhouetted against the sky. The poster reads: 'Halt! Who goes there?/ If you are a Friend/ Join the British Ranks/ and Help the Brave Lads/ at the Front'. The original published by the Parliamentary Recruitment Committee, as Poster No. 60, printed by Hill, Siffken and Company, London, 1915.
R E B Crompton, English electrical, c 1935.
Photograph of an oil painting, signed by Crompton and dated 27 July 1935. Rookes Evelyn Bell Crompton (1845-1940) was a pioneer of electric street lighting, including King's Cros Station and the Law Courts. He was instrumental in setting up a public electricity supply to London. Serving in the Electrical Engineers in the Boer War, he used his improved arc lamp design to develop the military searchlight. During WW1 he advised on the design and production of the 'Landship', a type of tank. He also produced generating equipment for power stations, and one of the first domestic cookers. He was awarded the Faraday Medal in 1926. His company, Crompton and Co, kept the Crompton name until the 1960s when it was taken over by Hawker Siddeley.
Captain James Skinner, 1842
The Late Captain James Skinner, 61st Bengal Native Infantry, 1842. Coloured lithograph by and after Lieutenant Vincent Eyre, Bengal Artillery, 1843 (c). The artist's original drawings were made during his captivity in Afghanistan after the Retreat from Kabul during the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842). From 'Portraits of the Kabul Prisoners', a set of pre-publication coloured lithographs later published by John Murray in 1843.
aerostatic reconnaisance at Mainz, 1795.
Watercolour painting by Nicolas Jacques Conte depicting an aerostatic reconnaisance outside Mainz in Germany, before it was besieged by the French army (under Lefebre) during the French Revolutionary Wars (1789-1795) in 1795. Military reconnaisance from the air was first carried out by the French at Mauberge on 2 June 1794. The balloon used in this instance, the 'Entreprenant', was also used at Mainz. The balloon was inflated with hydrogen and held in place by two cables. A 'tent-abri', a portable cover and windbreak, could also be stretched over it and pegged down to provide stability. Napoleon formed two companies of 'aerostiers', which were of both military and psychological value. Military ballooning, particularly for captive observation purposes, has continued ever since.
'The Key to the Situation', 1915
'The Key to the Situation', 1915. Recruiting poster, unknown artist, World War One, 1915. Key inscribed with 'Munitions', 'Men' and 'Money' on the teeth, with the slogan, 'Are You Helping To Turn It?' Original published by Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, London, printed by Seargeant Bros Ltd, London and Abergavenny, 1915.
'Lord Kitchener Says:- Enlist To-day', 1915
'Lord Kitchener Says:- Enlist To-day', 1915.Recruiting poster, World War One, 1915. Portrait of Lord Kitchener with a quote from his speech at the Guildhall, London, July 1915.Original published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, as poster No. 113, printed by David Allen and Sons Limited, 1915.
King George II at the Battle of Dettingen, 1743
King George II at the Battle of Dettingen, with the Duke of Cumberland and Robert, 4th Earl of Holderness, 27 June 1743. Oil on canvas by John Wootton, 1743. The Battle of Dettingen was fought during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) in the area which is now southern Germany. When his retreat was cut off, King George II (1683-1760) successfully led a multinational force of British, Hanoverians, Dutch and Austrians against the French under the Duc de Noailles, inflicting heavy losses. This was the last occasion when a reigning British monarch led his troops in person on the battlefield. As Duke of Cambridge, the King had already fought under Marlborough's command at the Battle of Oudenarde in 1708. Although he displayed great personal courage, the King had little flair for higher military command and wisely left the conduct of the campaign to his generals. His victory at Dettingen brought him much popularity at home.
