John Cleveley the Elder

Lord Sandwich (according to a mount at the Witt Library, London);
With Leggatt Bros., London, 1927;
With Thomas Agnew & Sons Ltd., London;
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 18 November 1987, lot 13, where unsold;
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's South Kensington, 5 May 1994, lot 115, where acquired.

Antiques Trade Gazette, 28 May 1994, p. 32, reproduced.

The canvas has been relined, the paint surface is relatively clean and the varnish is even and only slightly discoloured. There are scattered areas of slightly discoloured retouching in the sky, and inspection under ultraviolet light reveals retouching to reduce the appearance of craquelure in an area in the right of the sky. The ships themselves remain largely untouched, although there is some overpaint in the clouds around the ship on the right, which masks some previously-designed rigging. There are scattered areas of retouching in the sail of the sailboat in the foreground and in the water. Notwithstanding these aforementioned retouchings, the painting is in overall good condition.
"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."

The corvette H.M.S. Amazon began life as a French Sixth Rate called La Panthere, built at Brest in 1744. The twenty-two gun warship was captured from the French by H.M.S. Monmouth in July 1745 during the War of Austrian Succession and was put into immediate commission in the Royal Navy. The vessel was involved in a number of operations, including the Capture of Martinique on 16 February 1762, until she was sold out of the service at the conclusion of the Seven Years' War in 1763.

The vessel in the distance is the yacht Royal Caroline, built for George II at Deptford, where Cleveley himself lived and worked, in 1749. Her design was the result of a competition amongst the Master Shipwrights of the various naval dockyards and the Surveyor of the Navy, who won the contest. Having been named in honour of George II's wife, when the yacht was re-classed as a Sixth Rate in 1761 she was renamed Royal Charlotte after the new Queen. The vessels are shown at the mouth of the River Thames.