The British Attack on Gorée, 29 November 1758

Location

Country: Senegal
City: Dakar
Place: British Embassy

Richard Paton, marine painter, was born in London and is said to have been discovered on Tower Hill as a poor boy by Admiral Sir Charles Knowles. Knowles took him to sea, after which he found employment in the Excise Office, where he was still working at the time of his death. The earliest evidence of Paton painting is the exhibition of two works by him at the Society of Artists in 1762. He continued to exhibit with the Society for several years, before resigning in 1771. Five years later, Paton began to exhibit at the Royal Academy, where he showed his work until 1780. In 1776, he was granted permission by King George III to paint the Royal Dockyards at Chatham and Deptford and the resulting paintings are now in the Royal Collection.

Places

Atlantic Ocean, Africa, Senegal, Gorée

Subjects

seascape/coastal scene, island, cliff, ensign (ship), unnamed naval battle, house, ship

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Richard Paton (1717 - 1791)

Title

The British Attack on Gorée, 29 November 1758

Date

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 39.00 cm, width: 74.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Lorne House Trust Ltd., January 1994

Provenance

Mark Gilbey (who owned house on Gorée) via Lorne House Trust Ltd.

GAC number

16819