An exceptionally strong and human portrait of a high ranking officer of the British Royal Navy, this fine detailed work surfaced in Canada recently without the man’s identity associated with the painting. Speculation focused with educated guesses lead us to believe that he would be one an active commander of the Royal Navy in service to Queen Victoria and Country while in the defense of the six British colonies in North America that would form the confederation of Canada in 1867.

His early Victorian uniform is pristine and in proper fashion for a ranking admiral. The tops of the pair of gilt epaulets are hidden from view, and would either show a plain field of gold or a number of silver stars signifying his achieved rank within the Admiralty. Combined with the cast-brass buttons, layers of stiffened collars and heavy cuffs, the lion’s head of an officer’s sword hangs from a frogged-scabbard on his Royal Navy belt. The green and gold wound-braid tethering the sword is an indication that he is likely descended from Scottish ancestry, or another Celtic line.

One ship of his command is visible in the portrait, a smart lined British Warship Frigate of a decent size, capable of both speed and devastating broadsides. It appears that it is solely sail powered, another indicator that this is the mid-19th Century and more likely North America rather than Europe, as the British Home Fleets were mostly built or converted to steam by 1855. The best clue to the actual era is in the admiral’s hand, as a three draw brass telescope has a wood barrel. It is a top-quality instrument the admiral has in his grasp, made sometime in the first half of the 19TH Century. Such a large scale and well performed portrait helps us recognize and acknowledge his importance to the British Empire.