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
Thomas Smith Esq., Vice Admiral of the White
The Trustees of the British Museum
title=Credit line
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.
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