November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
“Admiral Sir George Cockburn.“ Mixed mezzotint engraved by H. T. Ryall after the original painting by S. Lane. Published July 1840 by Messrs. Colnaghi & Puckle, London. Proof before the title; superb impression in the early state, 32-3/4" x 21-3/4" with 29-1/2" x 19-1/2" platemark. The print is tipped to a piece of backing paper, which is wrapped around a strainer (with a backing board bearing an early 20th century Knoedler gallery label). Presented in a glazed frame with window mat (26" x 17-1/2" view). Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet, GCB, PC, FRS (22 April 1772 – 19 August 1853) was a Royal Navy officer whose long and distinguished career is too often overlooked in American circles due to his notoriety as the Man Who Burned Washington” As a captain, he was present at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in February 1797 and commanded the amphibious landings at the reduction of Martinique in 1809. He also masterminded the Chesapeake campaign of 1814 and the taking of Cumberland Island and St. Mary’s, Georgia in 1815. He went on to be First Naval Lord and in that capacity sought to improve the standards of gunnery in the fleet, forming a gunnery school at Portsmouth; later he ensured that the Navy had the latest steam and screw technology and put emphasis on the ability to manage seamen without the need to resort to physical punishment. A collaboration between engraver Henry Thomas Ryall (1811-1867) and portrait artist Samuel Lane (1780-1859), two master artists at the height of their respective careers, painted shortly after Cockburn was promoted to full admiral (1837) and engraved and published the year prior to Cockburn’s reappointment as First Lord of the Admiralty. Provenance: Max Williams Coll. Sale, Anderson Galleries, 1 Nov. 1928 as lot 16; M. Knoedler & Co.; private collection. CONDITION: Uniform light toning to paper, mounted as noted above, some waterstaining in lower margin, not affecting image area nor visible as currently framed. JLK
Item Dimensions: 36 x 26"