- 223
John Downman A.R.A. 1750-1824
Estimate
1,000 - 1,500 GBP
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Description
- John Downman, A.R.A.
- Portrait of Admiral John Gell
- signed c.r.: JDownman/Dlt 1784 and inscribed by the artist on the border: Admiral Gell. 1784. Orig.l/I drew two of this
- coloured chalks and watercolour on laid paper, oval
Provenance
E. M. Hodgkins, 1903
Exhibited
Crediton Arts and Crafts Exhibition, September 1903
Literature
Dr G.C. Williamson, John Downman his Life and Works, 1907, illus p.20
Catalogue Note
John Gell was born in Derbyshire and became a lieutenant in the navy in 1760 and a commander in 1762. He served in North America before being ordered to the West Indies. In 1784 he returned to England. During the Spanish armament in 1790 he commanded the Excellent for a few months and on 1st February 1793 he was advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral. He was then sent out to the Mediterranean and on the way he captured a Spanish treasureship, the Santiago. He was made Vice Admiral in 1794, but was forced by ill health to resign his command. He became an Admiral in 1799 and died in 1806.
A portrait of Admiral John Gell by Sir Joshua Reynolds is in the Painted Hall at Greenwich