Portrait Miniature | Admiral Benjamin Hallowell-Carew GCB| Hinton Gibbs.
A portrait miniature for sale by Hinton Gibbs. The important, watercolour on ivory, naval portrait miniature, details Admiral Benjamin Hallowell Carew GCB, in full naval dress. The medals, awards and decorations being a significant element, and clearly defined, in the portrait miniature:
The illustrious Royal Order of St.Ferdinand and Merit, suspended from the neck by a blue ribbon edged in dark red. The Order, being an order of knighthood for the Kingdom of The Two Sicilies was possibly conferred to Hallowell Carew for his actions in The French Revolutionary Wars.
The Long Service & good Conduct Medal, mounted to the left-facing on his tunic.
The portrait miniature watercolour on ivory is contained in a gold frame, with an engine-turned back, finished with translucent, deep blue glass.
Condition report: The watercolour on ivory in excellent condition, free from damage, the colours bright with good detail to the face, hair, tunic, orders, medals and decorations. The pins to the gold frame may have been removed (re-inserted), however the frame is in good condition.
Portrait Miniatures With Pedigree: Admiral Benjamin Hallowell Carew GCB excelled at sea. He is credited with a long, successful and dynamic naval career which crossed continents and time zones in the great age of sale. A Lieutenant in the Nelson's Royal Navy in 1781, he saw action throughout the American Revolutionary, French Revolutionary, and Napoleonic Wars. He served as a volunteer aboard HMS Victory during the Battle of Cape St.Vincent in 1797, and was admitted to the Admiralty as a result. He saw action alongside Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1797, (where Nelson lost his arm), and The Battle of The Nile, in 1798.
In addition to a distinguished naval career, Hallowell Carew is embedded in maritime legend for gifting Nelson a coffin made from the main mast of L'Orient, the French Flagship captured during The Battle of The Nile, where Hallowell was one of Nelson's trusted 'Band of Brothers' and Captain of HMS Swiftsure.
Hallowell Carew's note to Nelson, which accompanied the unlikely gift read:
'that when you have finished your military careerin this world you maybe buried in one of your trophies.' Extract: James Ralfe, The Naval Biography of Great Britain, 1828.Nelson is believed to have kept Carew's gift propped-up against a chair in his cabin. Nelson was buried in the coffin.
Provenance: Sold. Sotheby's Portrait Miniature Auction, Lot 1, London 15th July 1968. Sold. Sotheby's The McKenzie Sale of Silouettes. Attributed to the British artist Hinton Gibbs. Lot 96, 30th July 1979.Sources & Further ReadingFoskett, D. Portrait Miniatures Dictionary & Guide. Sussex. 1994 Antique Collector's Club. Isbn 1851490639
James, W. The Naval History of Great Britain, Volume 2, 1797–1799. Conway Maritime Press. 2002/1827. Isbn 0851779069.Lavery, B. The Ship of the Line. Volume 1: The Development of the Battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. 2003. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.Maffeo, S. Most Secret and Confidential: Intelligence in the Age of Nelson. London: Chatham Publishing. 2000. Isbn 186176152X.
Portrait Paintings: an oil painting of Sir Benjamin Hallowell Carew, by John Hayter, the son of portrait miniaturist Charles Hayter (1761-1835) is currently housed in The National Portrait Gallery, Primary Collection, London. The oil portrait by Hayter is dated circa 1833, and shows Sir Benjamin Hallowell Carew in full naval uniform. The oil portrait makes an interesting study, and compliment to the watercolour portrait miniature offered for sale: both portraits show Hallowell Carew in his mature years, dressed in naval tunic with medals, orders and decorations including The Order of St Ferdinand & Merit, Long Service & Good Conduct medal. The oil portrait was gifted to The National Portrait Gallery by William Smith, 1873.
Price: SOLD
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