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Notes
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A triple portrait of three Elizabethan explorers. On the left is John Hawkins, wearing a hat and gold chains. Hawkins commanded several expeditions to the Spanish colonies of the New World and traded in black slaves. He was treasurer and controller of the navy in 1573 and did much to ensure that the new construction for the fleet was ships of the galleon type to carry heavy ordnance as their principal means of offence. He died at sea off Porto Rico when on an expedition against the Spanish. Drake, Hawkins’s cousin, stands in the centre and his right arm leans against a globe to denote the adventurers. He wears a sleeveless leather doublet. From relatively humble beginnings and early experiences at sea, Drake pursued an outstandingly successful career as a privateer.
Cavendish is shown standing on the right. He wears a red doublet and black cloak, both sewn with pearls, and a gold earring in his left ear. In 1585 Cavendish went with Grenville on a colonising expedition to Virginia. The following year he set off on an expedition of his own to circumnavigate the word. After passing through the Straits of Magellan, he successfully attacked the Spanish commerce on the west coast of South America, culminating in the taking of a large and very rich treasure ship. On his way home he discovered St Helena and arrived at Plymouth just after the defeat of the Armada in 1588. An attempt to repeat this achievement ended in failure and his death at sea in 1592.
This painting is probably a copy of Daniel Myten’s painting of the same subject which was owned by Lord Lothian.
Title
Thomas Cavendish (1560–1592), Sir Francis Drake (1540?–1596) and Sir John Hawkins (1532–1595)
Date
17th C
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 139.5 x W 155 cm
Accession number
BHC2603
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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