Important Maritime Art from the Collection of Peter V. Guarisco

/

Lot 5
  • 5

Richard Brydges Beechey

Estimate
70,000 - 90,000 USD
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

  • Richard Brydges Beechey
  • The Battle of St. Vincent
  • signed Beechey and dated 1881 (lower right) and titled Battle of St Vincent (lower left); inscribed on an old label: Lord Nelson/ the captain boarding/ turning the St Joseph/ the San Nicolas/ Sir John Jarvis/ Victory off Cape St Vincent/ Feb 14 17**/ By RB Beec** on the stretcher
  • oil on canvas
  • 30 by 45 in.
  • 76.2 by 114.3 cm

Provenance

Sale: Phillip's, London, November 19, 1985, lot 27, illustrated
Christopher Wood, London

Catalogue Note

The Battle of St. Vincent occurred on February 14, 1797.  On the British side, Lord Nelson, the most famed officer of the Napoleonic Wars, (then titled Commodore Sir Horatio Nelson) was at the helm of Captain, aided by Sir John Jervis aboard Victory.  The inscription refers to Lord Nelson boarding the Spanish vessels he had defeated, San Joseph and San Nicolas, probably to take their captains' swords in surrender and to review the spoils of war he would take from these boats, now his prizes.

The painter rose to the rank of Admiral in the British Navy, and was the son of the portrait painter Sir William Beechey.  After his retirement from the Navy, Richard Beechey devoted himself to marine painting full-time and was a frequent exhibitor at the Royal Academy.