Lot 175
  • 175

Willem van de Velde the Younger and Studio

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description

  • Willem van de Velde the Younger and Studio
  • Lord Archibald Hamilton in the Lichfield engaging the St. Malo Privateer Tyger, 11th December 1695
  • indistinctly signed lower left on driftwood
    later inscribed on the stretcher

  • oil on canvas
  • 65.4 by 98 cm.; 25 3/4 by 38 5/8 in.

Provenance

Probably comissioned by Lord Archibald Hamilton (16731754);
Probably thence by descent to his daughter Elizabeth (17201800) who married Francis Greville, 1st Earl of Warwick (17191773);
Thence by descent.

Exhibited

Wellesley (Mass.), Davis Museum, on long term loan.

Literature

Probably Anon., Inventory of the Contents of Warwick Castle, 1806, one of three sea fights mentioned, two as by Van de Velde;
Probably W. Field, An Historical and Descriptive Account of Leamington Spa, Warwick 1815, p. 204, ('A Seafight by Vandervelde'), in the Compass room;
W. Spicer, Vitruvius Britannicus. History of Warwick Castle, London 1844 ('Naval Engagement - Vandervelde'), in the Compass Room;
H. T. Cooke, Present State of the Castle, 1846 ('A Frigate in Chase, by William Vandervelde'), in the library, opposite the fire place;
Anon., Inventory of the contents of Warwick Castle, ms., 1900, as ('Sea Piece and Ships'), hanging in the Chinese Corridor;
M. S. Robinson, Van de Velde, A Catalogue of the Paintings of the Elder and the Younger Willem van de Velde, London 1990, vol. I, no. 470, pp. 24546.

Condition

The canvas has an old relining and is secure. The paint surface is in fine overall condition, and not too pressed from the relining. There has been restrengethining in the whole of the sky, and a few repairs to loss small losses of paint along the right margin, but the majority of the lower part with the ships and water has not been restored and is well - preserved.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

Lord Archibald Hamilton, seventh and youngest son of William, 3rd Duke of Hamilton and his wife Anne, Duchess of Hamilton, became captain in the Navy on the 11th September 1693 and by the end of 1694 was appointed to a new 48 gun vessel the Litchfield that was being built at Portsmouth. In 1695 he was active in the English Channel pursuing French privateers and this picture appears to commemorate a particular action recorded in the ship’s log: “Dec 11 at:8: this morn. saw 2: sayle to Leward we gave chace to one ye Anglesy to ye other.  by noon came up with our chase & Engag’d with her fo: 2: hours after which she struck haveing both her topmasts shott away – being a french Privateeer of Snt Malo of: 24: guns Call’d ye Tyger.”

Robinson suggests that the picture may have entered the collection at Warwick Castle together with the portrait of Lord Archibald by Thomas Murray, which still hangs in the state rooms at Warwick, from the collections of one of his children, probably Sir William Hamilton.