Sir Thomas Graves (c.1747-1814) Admiral

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Royal College of Defence Studies, Seaford House, Belgrave Square

James Northcote was born in Plymouth and moved to London in 1771. There he entered the Royal Academy Schools and worked as an assistant to Joshua Reynolds, first president of the Royal Academy. He travelled to Italy in 1777 and was elected to artists’ academies in Florence, Rome and Cortona. After returning to England in 1780 he established a practice as a portrait painter and exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy from 1781. Northcote was elected an Associate of the RA in 1786 and a full Academician the following year.

People

Sir Thomas Graves (c.1747 - 1814)

Places

Subjects

urn, male portrait, smoke, sea, man, 19th century costume, military uniform, breeches, epaulettes, tassel, ensign (ship), Order of the Bath, admiral, sword, Battle of Copenhagen (1801), wall, ship

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

James Northcote (1746 - 1831)

Title

Sir Thomas Graves (c.1747-1814) Admiral

Date

1801

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 180.00 cm, width: 137.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Rafael Valls, July 1977

Inscription

Inscribed lower left: J.s Northcote. Pinx.t 1801; Inscribed lower right: Sacred to the / Memory / of Bridget, the Wife of / Rear Adm.l Sir Tho.s Graves K.B. / of Woodbine-Hill in the County of / Devon, / and Daughter of / Philip Bacon Esq. / of Bishops Hall in the / County of Suffolk, / who Departed this Life / the 24.th of December / 1795.

Provenance

With St. Robin (Fine Arts) Ltd.; from whom purchased by Rafael Valls Ltd., London, on 13 July 1977; from whom purchased by the Department of the Environment in July 1977

GAC number

13332