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A three-quarter-length portrait of Sir Christopher Myngs in a dark brown silk coat with thin strips of gold. The scabbard of his sword hangs on a heavy gold baldric, or sash, which he holds in his left hand. The half-drawn sword is held in his right hand. The right background consists of rock and foliage and a ship in action appears on the left. Myngs was described by Pepys as a 'very stout man, and a man of great parts, and a most excellent tongue among ordinary men'. In the Second Dutch War he fought as a flag officer at the Battle of Lowestoft in 1665, and the Four Days' Fight in 1666. On the fourth day he was heavily engaged with De Liefde when he was shot through the throat. He remained standing on deck compressing the wound with his fingers until he fell, shot again through the neck.
At the Restoration Lely was appointed Principal Painter to Charles II. This portrait was commissioned by HRH the Duke of York, following the Battle of Lowestoft, the first fleet action of the Second Dutch War. It was certainly seen by Pepys in Lely's studio and described by him as being begun or finished on 18 April 1666. The portrait is inscribed 'Sir Christopher Myms'.
Title
Flagmen of Lowestoft: Vice-Admiral Sir Christopher Myngs (1625–1666)
Date
1665–1666
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 124 x W 101.7 cm
Accession number
BHC2874
Acquisition method
National Maritime Museum (Greenwich Hospital Collection)
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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