December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
Unknown artist, 18th c. British School. Watercolor on paper, 4 x 3 in. oval (view), within period 6 7/8 x 5 ¾ in. oval, carved and painted frame; inscribed on laid paper label on recto: “Wm. Limberly / Lieut. RN / 27th April / 1781 / For my Niece / Maria Rains / 1 May 74 /Sarah Rains”. Limberly was a seasoned mariner, having been a serving midshipman for four years (and may have been a warrant officer previously), passing his qualification examination in 1781 subsequently commissioned a lieutenant in the Royal Navy on 28 April 1781. He retired on half-pay in 1783, returned to service during the Napoleonic Wars and retired as a superannuated commander on 1 January 1816 (died 3 OCT 1840). This profile was taken to within weeks of his commission as lieutenant and he is wearing his midshipman's uniform (with tab on collar), altered to that of a lieutenant with the addition of white lapels. CONDITION: very good, one small rub on the frame's rim with retouching.