English School circa 1740

Probably presented to or commissioned by Daniel Finch 3rd Earl of Nottingham and 8th Earl of Winchilsea (1689-1769),
Thence by family descent.

You are to prepare and send with your Draught a Solid or Model shaped exactly by the same with the Load Water Line, the height of the Decks and Wales, the Channels, Chainplates, Ports, Gallerys etc marked thereon; And that everything proper to explain your Design be done both on the Draught and Solid in as particular manner as possible for our consideration and directions therin before you proceed on your Building or Rebuilding.
(Letter from the Navy Board to the Master Shipwrights at the Royal Dockyards, 1716)

This magnificent pair of ship portraits depicts a bow and stern view of a vessel from around 1730.  The vessel would have been one of the most impressive in the fleet at this time, carrying 100 guns, as well as an ornate figurehead topped with a crown, which was a feature particular to only 1^st and 2^nd rate ships.  The dating of the vessel is supported by an analysis of the structure of the ship’s gallery.  The taffrail carving runs across the width of the stern, a stylistic development which only became commonplace in the second quarter of the eighteenth century.  This date is highly important as it means these are likely to be the earliest known pair of British shipyard model portraits.

It was standard practice for a ship builder to provide their client with a scale model of the vessel to be built, however it is exceptionally rare for a portrait, such as the present works, to follow.  The present vessel would have been vast in size, seemingly larger and more ornate than the Royal George, King George III’s flagship. 

A model of the Royal George was painted by Joseph Marshall in 1779.  This work exists as part of a series of paintings commissioned from Marshall by King George III.  Marshall was required to paint a series of pairs of perspective views of unrigged hull models, each of a different class of ship.  Many of these pairs of paintings are in the Science Museum, as well as two works which hang in the National Maritime Museum.  The present vessel antedates any ship in the fleet of George III, and this pair of ship portraits are clearly precursors, and arguably inspiration, for the royal commissions.

It may never be possible to identify the vessel.  At the time that the vessel would have been launched, the First Lord of the Admiralty was Daniel Finch, 3rd Earl of Nottingham and 8th Earl of Winchilsea (1689-1769); these paintings have been passed down through his descendants to the present owners.   Finch never actually served at sea but he had a distinguished political career including Lord of the Treasury from 1715-1716, Comptroller of the Household from 1725-1730 and Lord President of the Council from July  1765 to July 1766.  He was also a staunch humanitarian strongly supporting the creation of London's Foundling Hospital in 1739 which provided shelter and education for abandoned children.  He was also a key member of the 'Patriot Opposition' led by Lord Cartaret (1690-1763) who sharply ciriticised what they saw as the excessive powers of Robert Walpole.  Lord Cartaret became leading minister in 1742 and Finch was appointed to the Admiralty that year.   As First Lord he would have held great influence on which shipbuilder would be granted the contract, and a vessel of this scale would have been a memorable, and highly significant addition to His Majesty's fleet.