How you can use this image
This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).
Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.
The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.
Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.
Notes
Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.
Although the sitter appears to be wearing flag officer's full-dress uniform of 1748 to 1767, the lacing is curiously idiosyncratic. He wears a white dress wig, his right hand is on his hip and his left is on the muzzle of a small cannon. On the left is a table with a book, chart and compass on it. Relatively little is known about the sitter. He was made post-captain in 1713 and although employed for many years he is only notable for his command of the 'Norfolk', 80 guns, which took a prominent part in Vernon's attack on Cartagena in 1741. He was promoted onto the Superannuated List in 1747. There are several mysteries surrounding this portrait. The inaccuracies in the uniform suggest that it may have been painted at a later date and though it was presented to Greenwich Hospital in 1834 by William IV, it is not clear why it was then in his possession.
Title
Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves (1680–1755)
Date
1754
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 121.92 x W 96.52 cm
Accession number
BHC2721
Acquisition method
National Maritime Museum (Greenwich Hospital Collection)
Work type
Painting