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A three-quarter-length portrait to the right, in flag officer's full-dress uniform of 1748–1767. He wears a white waistcoat richly embroidered in gold and a white dress wig. He holds his sword with his left hand and has his hat under his left arm. Naval officers' uniform was only introduced in 1748 and this portrait is a good example showing the first flag officer's full dress pattern. In the right background is Byng's flagship. The Honourable John Byng, the fourth son of Admiral Viscount Torrington, had an unremarkable career until he was sent to relieve the British-held island of Minorca in 1756 when it was under siege by the French. Having risen to flag rank through his illustrious connections but without fighting experience commensurate to the task, his action with the blockading French fleet was inconclusive and the island was lost.
The painter, Hudson, was both pupil and son-in-law of another notable portraitist, the elder Jonathan Richardson, and was in turn the early master in London of Joshua Reynolds. Regarded as a safe man for a dignified and flattering likeness, he was the leading society portraitist of his time. Although he painted his sitters' faces, his use of assistants to paint much of the rest of his portraits was well known and far from unusual.
Title
Admiral John Byng (1704–57), Admiral of the Blue
Date
1749
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 127 x W 101.6 cm
Accession number
BHC2590
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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Edward Willes (1693–1773), Bishop of Wells (1743–1773) The Bishop's Palace & Gardens -
Margaretta Mabella Acworth (1727–1794) English Heritage, Marble Hill House -
Reverend Sir Hadley D'Oyly (c.1709–1764) English Heritage, Marble Hill House -
Dr John Gilbert, Bishop of Salisbury, Archbishop of York Mount Edgcumbe House -
William Davis (d.1765), Member of Council, Calcutta British Library -
Richard Bentley (1662–1742), Master (1700–1742), Philologist and Classical Scholar Trinity College, University of Cambridge -
Mrs Bowles, Wife of Canon Bowles, and Her Child The Wilson - 291 more
