December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
ATTRIBUTED TO ALLAN RAMSAY (British, 1713-1784). "Portrait of Lieutenant William Snow Steele, circa 1759." Oil on canvas, 29 x 24 inches, within later gilt composition frame. Outside of his military career, the life of William Snow Steele (also spelled “Steel”) remains largely a mystery. He was a gentleman-volunteer attached to a regiment in Wolfe’s army at the siege of Quebec and was appointed an ensign in the 2nd Battalion of the "Royal Americans" or Regiment of Foot on 24 AUG 1759, his commission due a casualty vacancy in the regiment. Steele was wounded in action during the decisive British victory on the Plains of Abraham, 18 SEP 1759. He fought with the 2nd Battalion in the defense of Quebec and subsequent campaign against Montreal the following year and was promoted to lieutenant on 23 June 1760. He transferred to Captain George Coventry’s New York Independent Company on 12 December 1762, transferring again on 25 June 1763, this time into the 55th Regiment of Foot (thereby avoiding a retirement on half-pay with the reduction of the army with the coming of peace). He married Elizabeth Long (1746-1797) at Trinity Church in New York City on 16 January 1765, the license listing his birth year as 1740 (while his military records indicate 1742). His regiment was reduced and ordered back in England that same month, Steele remaining in New York as a half-pay officer. He was also the recipient of a military land grant of 2000 acres in Cumberland County along the Connecticut River, which was patented in 1770. The following year, the Common Council of New York City admitted “William Snow Steele Gent[leman was] as a “freeman of this Corporation” on 16 March 1771. William must have died sometime in the following two years, as his wife Elizabeth was listed as a widow in city records. While Steele’s scarlet uniform has the blue facings given to all “Royal” regiments, it is not necessarily that of the 60th, whose officers (at least in some battalions) had silver lace and buttons. Rather, it appears to be that worn from c. 1759 by officers of the 42nd or Royal Highland Regiment, with blue facings, gold lace and buttons, a fall-down collar, and buff (rather than scarlet) waistcoat. This would indicate that Steele most likely served as a gentleman-volunteer in the 42nd during 1759 and as such, wore the same uniform as an officer but devoid of aiguillette on right shoulder. This is probably why the artist painted Steele in profile to the left, rather than right proper (or a frontal view). By this means, his portrait would still be “current” since the aiguillette would not be seen should he be so fortunate as to be promoted in his parent unit. The portrait was presented to the Tontine Coffee House by his widow or possibly following her death in 1797. It remained there until the House was closed and its property sold at public auction in the 1830s. CONDITION: Lined in the 19th century; conserved in 2011, at which time the painting was cleaned, old varnish removed and replaced with synthetic resin varnish; minor scattered inpainting. Conservation report accompanies portrait.
ADDENDUM: The frame is a late 18th century frame that has been with the portrait since at least the early or mid 19th century--if not original to the work. It has had subsequent restoration work done to it, as noted in the conservation report that accompanies the painting.