Thomas Smith Esq Vice Admiral of Ye White Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships on the Coast of Scotland, Anno 1746

A three-quarter-length portrait of Thomas Smith (1707–1762) wearing a coat with large decorations around the buttons. The sitter holds a telescope in his left hand and leans against a broken column with a distant view of ships in the background. Lettered beneath the image with the sitter’s coat of arms and the title: ‘Thomas Smith Esq. Vice Admiral of the White, Commander in Chief of his Majesty’s Ships on the Coast of Scotland, Anno 1746.’ Also lettered with the production details and publication line: ‘R. Wilson pinxt. / J. Faber fecit. / Price 1s. London, Printed for R. Sayer opposite Fetter Lane Fleet Street.’ This portrait was engraved by John Faber the Younger after Richard Wilson’s oil painting of around 1744, which is now in the National Maritime Museum (see BHC3032). The inscription on the print refers to Smith’s service as commander-in-chief on the Coast of Scotland in 1746 but also describes him as vice-admiral of the white, which he became in May 1748. This suggests the print was not published before 1748. The plate was initially published by Faber himself (see PAF3417). This version was published by Robert Sayer, the plate having been reworked to feature his address instead of Faber’s. Another version was published by Robert Sayer, John Ryall and Robert Withy (see PAF3418). (Updated May 2019.)

Object Details

ID: PAF3419
Type: Print
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Faber, Johan; Sayer, Robert Wilson, Richard
People: Smith, Thomas
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Sheet: 416 x 291 mm; Mount: 557 mm x 405 mm