Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Portrait of a British Naval Lieutenant

circa 1805

$10,500
£7,895.15
€9,168.19
CA$14,663.03
A$16,262.39
CHF 8,540.21
MX$199,713.65
NOK 108,110.92
SEK 101,950.04
DKK 68,404.77
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

'Portrait of British Naval Officer' is attributed to the British painter and engraver Daniel Orme (1766-c.1832) based on the scratched inscription verso, as well as its similarity to Orme’s known engraving oeuvre. The oil on tin portrait bears the scratched inscription “D. Orme” verso, which in the absence of contravening evidence as to the artist is significant in attributing the work to Orme. Katherine Coombs, Curator of Paintings at the Word & Image Department of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and the writer of the Dictionary of National Biography article on Orme, states that Orme is “so obscure an artist that if his name is indeed scratched on the [tin] that seems good evidence for it being so.” Additionally, Orme’s stipple engravings of prominent naval figures in oval, including John Hunter in 1792, Horatio Nelson in 1798, among others at the National Portrait Gallery, London are consistent with the style and composition of the portrait. Roger Quarm, Curator of Paintings at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich notes that Orme’s “engraved portraits of naval officers tend to be oval”. Orme is known to have issued a series of engravings by subscription that included portraits of popular naval Admirals and Officers in 1797. Two oils in the collection of the National Maritime Museum, also demonstrate Orme’s execution of naval subject matter. The sitter has been identified as a lieutenant in the British Navy wearing the “full-dress uniform for the period 1787-1812,” according to Roger Quarm. Alfred Umhey has confirmed this identification of the sitter as a “lieutenant in the uniform pattern 1787-1795, which is however worn post that date.” The medal worn around the sitter’s neck has been identified as the Sultan’s Medal for Egypt issued in 1801, by both Quarm and Umhey. The Sultan’s Medal for Egypt or the Turkish Medal for Egypt was issued in 1801 to members of the British Army and Navy by Sultan Selim III in reward for distinguished service during the campaign of 1801 in which a joint British and Ottoman force expelled the French army from Egypt. Three or four sizes in gold of the medal were issued by rank to members of the Royal Navy and Army. The smallest medal was awarded to Naval Lieutenants and Subalterns. The obverse of the medal bears a crescent and eight pointed star, which is visible in the portrait, while the reverse bears the Sultan’s cipher and the date 1801. According to Umhey, 402 gold medals were issued to officers of the Royal Navy. The dating of the uniform to between 1787 and 1812 coupled with the Sultan’s Medal for Egypt having been issued in 1801, places the painting of the portrait between 1801 and 1812. Contrary to some reports of Orme’s death in 1802, according to the Dictionary of National Biography and the National Maritime Museum, Orme continued to work as a painter and engraver in London until 1814 when he moved back to Manchester, although he continued to exhibit regularly at the Royal Academy until 1827.
  • Attributed to:
    Daniel Orme (1766 - 1802, British)
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1805
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)Width: 14.5 in (36.83 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Boston, MA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU397310488652

More From This Seller

View All
Pair of Marine Paintings
Located in Boston, MA
Condition: The paintings are in overall very good and sound condition, with age related craquelure running throughout. Framed in period frames.
Category

19th Century English School Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Charles Lee Esq.
Located in Boston, MA
Chaloner Smith (Engraver not ascertained, Class III) 9. Published by C. Shepherd, Oct. 31, 1775 London. Inscribed in plate lower center: "Charles Lee, Efq. / Major General of the Continental Army in America. / Published as the Act directs 31 Octr. 1775 by C. Shepherd". Inscribed in plate lower left: "Thomlinson pinxt". Flag inscribed in plate: "An Appeal to Heaven...
Category

Late 18th Century Realist Portrait Prints

Materials

Mezzotint

Moses
By James Ward
Located in Boston, MA
Grundy 70. Moses, property of His Royal Highness the Duke of York. A fine impression printed on chine applique, in fine condition with full margins.
Category

19th Century Romantic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

A Painting of Adaline Glasheen as a Writer's Muse
By Alexander Brook
Located in Boston, MA
Signed lower right: 'A.Brook '59'. Painted in Sag Harbor, Long Island in 1959. Adeline (Adaline) Glasheen was a writer. She was a friend of the artist and worked in literary circle...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Realist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Classical Study
Located in Boston, MA
Gammell Trust #W126. Signed and dated in pencil lower right: "R.H. Ives Gammell, Paris, 1917". This is a very early work and despite the fact that it is squared off for enlargement,...
Category

Early 20th Century American Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil

Portrait of a Lady
Located in Boston, MA
Label verso: "Portrait of a Lady / Oil / MUC / Beatrice Whitney Van Ness / unsigned / size 30h x 25w ". From the estate of the artist. Beatrice Whit...
Category

1940s American Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like

Portrait of a British Officer
By Thomas Beach
Located in Wiscasett, ME
A very fine portrait of a British military officer signed and dated Thomas Beach 1774 in the lower left. This oil on canvas is presented in a period gilt frame and is ready to hang. ...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

19th century Portrait of An army Officer Circle of Thomas Phillips
By Thomas Phillips
Located in York, GB
A fine 19th century Portrait painting of An army Officer in the circle of Thomas Phillips . Oil on canvas, housed in a gilt frame The size being 73.5 x 60cm (28¾ x 23½ in.) whilst...
Category

19th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait Of A British Officer, early 19th Century - Napoleonic Wars Era
Located in Blackwater, GB
Portrait Of A British Officer, early 19th Century Napoleonic wars Era Early 19th Century Napoleonic Wars Era portrait of a British military officer, oil on canvas. Excellent quality and condition portrait of the officer in his red tunic...
Category

Early 19th Century Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a French Military Officer
Located in Milford, NH
A finely detailed oil painting portrait of a French military officer in dress uniform with sword, unsigned, and housed in a period decorative gilt gessoed frame with a London Freeman...
Category

Early 19th Century Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait Colonel Edward Astley 1st Royal Life Guards, 19th Century
Located in Blackwater, GB
Portrait Colonel Edward Astley 1st Royal Life Guards, 19th Century by Frederique Emile O'Connell (1823-1885) Large 19th Century Portrait of Colonel Edward Astley, 1st Royal Life Gua...
Category

19th Century Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

18th Century Oil on Canvas Portrait, Major Alexander Brown in Military Uniform.
By Sir David Wilkie
Located in Cotignac, FR
18th Century Military portrait of a young officer in Napoleonic period military dress. The painting is not signed but the subject is Major Alexander Brown. The work is oil on canvas later mounted on board and presented in a fine 'Regence style' carved gilt frame. There are labels to the back referring to the subject, 'Major Brown of Trinity' and a framers trade label from Edinburgh. A magnificent and imposing portrait of a young military officer in the prime of his life. His red uniform adorned with fine buttons, fringed epaulettes and high gilt collar. His ruddy complexion offset by his stylish hair, a quiff and swept forward to the sides as was the fashion at the time. Sir David Wilkie RA (18 November 1785 – 1 June 1841) was a Scottish painter, especially known for his portraits, including formal royal ones, and scenes from his travels to Europe and the Middle East. He painted successfully in a wide variety of genres, including historical scenes. His main base was in London, but he died and was buried at sea, off Gibraltar, returning from his first trip to the Middle East. He was sometimes known as the "people's painter". He was Principal Painter in Ordinary to King William IV and Queen Victoria. Apart from royal portraits, his best-known painting today is probably The Chelsea Pensioners Reading the Waterloo Dispatch of 1822 in Apsley House. Sir David Wilkie was actually admitted in 1799 (despite only being 14) through the influence of the Earl of Leven...
Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board