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Thomas Smith Esq., Vice Admiral of the White
The Trustees of the British Museum
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John Faber the Younger (c.1684-1756) after Wilson
Thomas Smith Esq., Vice Admiral of the White
1746
Mezzotint
353 x 251 mm
13 7/8 x 9 7/8 in.
1935,0413.149
E1
Three-quarter length portait of Thomas Smith Esq. standing leaning with his left elbow on the base of a broken column, holding a telescope in front of him, left knee bent and advanced, right hand on hip. He is wearing a coat with large decorations around the buttons, open over a silk jacket and a long wig. There are ships in the background to the left.
Donated by Ulick de Burgh-Browne, 7th Marquis of Sligo, 1935
[1] Lettered with title, continuing 'Vice Admiral of ye White Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships on the Coast of Scotland, Anno 17[missing]', the Lyttelton coat of arms with the motto 'Ung Dieu et Ung Roy', and 'R. Wilson pinxt. / I. Faber fecit / Price 2s. London, Printed for R. Sayer, I.Ryal & R.Withy in Fleet Street'
[2] Inscribed in modern pencil lower right corner: No 87
D1 Study for the Portrait of Admiral Thomas Smith, National Galleries of Scotland
E2 John Faber the Younger Sir Edward Hawke, The British Museum and other impressions
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The sitter's great-nephew, John Thomas Smith, Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum, mentions 'a spirited half-length portrait, painted by the celebrated Richard Wilson [...] from which picture there is an excellent engraving in mezzotinto, by Faber.' (see bibliography).
J.T. Smith, A Book for a Rainy Day, 1845, pp. 3-4; Chaloner Smith, vol. 1, p. 426, cat. 333; Russell p. 96, cat. 333, state V; sale cat., The Lyttelton Papers, Sotheby's London, 12 December 1978, p. 101 (cat. 79)
State after Faber's address altered for Sayer's, with address of Royal & Withy added
Lower right and left corners repaired