This unfinished sketch by Richard Westall which is at the Department of Prints & Drawings at the British Museum depicts a scene when the San Nicolas surrendered, February 14, 1797. However it is clear from the finished oil painting that this sketch was only partly maintained in the final painting, which is at the National Maritme Museum. The picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1807 (211) with three other paintings by Richard Westall of Nelson's naval career. The full title was 'Lord Nelson, when commanding the Captain, of 74 guns, with a broad pendant, R.W. Miller, Esq, commander in the action off Cape St. Vincent, Feb 14, 1797, receiving the sword of the dying Spanish commodore, after having boarded the San Nicolas, followed by Lieut. Barry and Captain Pearson: they immediately after boarded and too the San Joseph.' There are several engravings of this scene.
This is a very interesting sketch/study, as it is very different in treatment from Westall's watercolours of the the same period. Had it not been ascribed to Richard Westall one could easily mistake it for a study by George Hayter who was producing similar works twenty years later. The subject clearly relates to one of the Nelson paintings at Greenwich and the pencilled note reminds us that the finished oil painting used to be on display in the Painted Hall. It was only in 1823 that the Painted Hall was established as a gallery for the display of naval portraits and other paintings. It remained as a picture gallery until 1936 when the paintings were removed to the nearby National Maritime Museum which opened the following year. The inscription on the drawing must therefore date from some time after 1823.
This unfinished sketch by Richard Westall which is at the Department of Prints & Drawings at the British Museum depicts a scene when the San Nicolas surrendered, February 14, 1797.
ReplyDeleteHowever it is clear from the finished oil painting that this sketch was only partly maintained in the final painting, which is at the National Maritme Museum.
The picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1807 (211) with three other paintings by Richard Westall of Nelson's naval career.
The full title was 'Lord Nelson, when commanding the Captain, of 74 guns, with a broad pendant, R.W. Miller, Esq, commander in the action off Cape St. Vincent, Feb 14, 1797, receiving the sword of the dying Spanish commodore, after having boarded the San Nicolas, followed by Lieut. Barry and Captain Pearson: they immediately after boarded and too the San Joseph.'
There are several engravings of this scene.
This is a very interesting sketch/study, as it is very different in treatment from Westall's watercolours of the the same period. Had it not been ascribed to Richard Westall one could easily mistake it for a study by George Hayter who was producing similar works twenty years later. The subject clearly relates to one of the Nelson paintings at Greenwich and the pencilled note reminds us that the finished oil painting used to be on display in the Painted Hall. It was only in 1823 that the Painted Hall was established as a gallery for the display of naval portraits and other paintings. It remained as a picture gallery until 1936 when the paintings were removed to the nearby National Maritime Museum which opened the following year. The inscription on the drawing must therefore date from some time after 1823.
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