Captain Michael Everitt, RN
(c. 1747-1748)
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
127.5 × 102.0 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Everard Studley Miller Bequest, 1960
Gallery location
17th to 18th Century European Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
Originally a London portrait painter, Richard Wilson, a founding member of the Royal Academy in 1768, visited Venice in 1750 and Rome in 1751. In Rome he was persuaded to devote his efforts to landscape painting using Claude Lorrain’s refined style when he returned to England. Completed before Wilson travelled to Italy, this portrait was likely intended to commemorate the sitter’s promotion after he was made a captain of the Royal Navy in December 1747. The generous white strokes on the sleeves characterise the pan-British style that dominated many portraits when Britain was debating its cultural relationship with Europe.
Artwork Details
Inscription
inscribed (diagonally) in brown paint c.l.: R. Wilson f.
Accession Number
623-5
Department
International Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Subjects (general)
Military and Warfare Portraits
Subjects (specific)
captains (military officers) coats (garments) men (male humans) sailors (military) three-quarter-length figures waistcoats (garments) wigs