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Description: | The Honourable John Byng, the fifth 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. He was recalled, humiliatingly confined at Greenwich Hospital, then court-martialled and shot in 1757 on board his own flagship, 'Monarque', at Portsmouth, for neglect of duty. Although the court felt obliged to pass the sentence on point of law, it did so with a strong recommendation for mercy. When this was refused by George II it was recognized that Byng had also been made a political scapegoat and Voltaire, in his novel 'Candide', famously included mention of his (bravely met) death: 'In this country [England]', he wrote, 'it is thought good to shoot an admiral from time to time, to encourage the others'. The French phrase 'pour encourager les autres' has been common in English usage ever since.
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, with a huge practice.
Byng is shown in flag officer?s full dress uniform, 1748?1767, and a short white full wig. Inscribed ?Adml. Byng?. This is possibly a later portrait than the other portrait by Hudson (BHC2590), which is dated 1749, as the face perhaps appears fuller.
The sitter is unlikely to be Byng. It is difficult to reconcile this portrait with BHC2590, the three-quarter length by Hudson, presented by Lord Strafford in 1942 (signed and dated 1749). BHC2591 was bought at the Dillon Sale at Sotheby's, lot 29, 24/5/1933. On the day before the sale Geoffrey Callender, NMM director designate, wrote to Sir James Caird 'It appears that the NPG has for long been anxious to obtain a portrait of the
celebrated Byng. Such being the case the Director (Hake) has scrutinised most carefully the portrait of Byng to be sold at the Dillon sale. After
the fullest investigation, he has decided that it is not Byng at all but a second portrait of Admiral Lee at a more advanced age.'
The earlier portrait of Admiral Lee to which Hake referred is of Fitzroy Henry Lee (1699-1750), unidentified artist and painted about 1725 or a little earlier (BHC2838). This portrait was also in the Dillon sale, lot 30, and has a painted inscription in the same hand as the 'Byng'.
caption: Admiral John Byng, 1704-1757 | Publisher: | "http://collections.rmg.co.uk/" | Rights holder: | "Royal Museums Greenwich" | Subjects: | Lee Fitzroy Henry paintings | Source: | Royal Museums Greenwich | Identifier: | http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections... | Go to resource |
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