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"Lyttelton, George" is linked to these Works
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Thomas Smith Esq., Vice Admiral of the White
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Thomas Smith Esq., Vice Admiral of the White
Thomas Smith Esq., Vice Admiral of the White
The Trustees of the British Museum
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Artist
John Faber the Younger (c.1684-1756) after Wilson
Title
Thomas Smith Esq., Vice Admiral of the White
Date
1746
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Metric: 353 x 251 mm
Imperial: 13 7/8 x 9 7/8 in.
Details
Links
Collection
The British Museum.
To license image, click here
Accession Number
1935,0413.149
Wilson Online Reference
E1
Description
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.
Provenance
Donated by Ulick de Burgh-Browne, 7th Marquis of Sligo, 1935
Signature/inscription
[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
Related Drawings
D1
Study for the Portrait of Admiral Thomas Smith
, National Galleries of Scotland
Related Prints
E2 John Faber the Younger
Sir Edward Hawke
, The British Museum and other impressions
Versions
See 'Links' tab
Critical commentary
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).
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)
More Information
State after Faber's address altered for Sayer's, with address of Royal & Withy added
Condition/Conservation
Lower right and left corners repaired
Work of Art
Drawings
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782),
Study for the Portrait of Admiral Thomas Smith
, National Galleries of Scotland
Versions
John Faber the Younger (c.1684-1756)after Wilson,
Thomas Smith, Esq, Vice Admiral of the White
, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven
John Faber the Younger (c.1684-1756)after Wilson,
The Honble Thomas Smith, Esq., Rear Admiral of the Red
, Private Collection, England
John Faber the Younger (c.1684-1756)after Wilson,
Thomas Smith, Esq., Vice Admiral of the White
, National Portrait Gallery, London
Paintings
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782),
Commodore Thomas Smith
, Hagley Hall, Worcestershire
Richard Wilson (1713/14-1782),
Admiral Thomas Smith
, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Biographies
Admiral Thomas Smith (1707-1762)
Sir George (Lord) Lyttelton (1709-1773)
John Faber the Younger (c.1684-1756)
Documents
John Chaloner Smith,
British Mezzotinto Portraits; being a Descriptive Catalogue of these Engravings from the Introduction of the Art to the early part of the present Century
Richard Wilson, Letter to Admiral Smith
Elizabeth Wilson, Letter to Admiral Smith
