State before letters. A full-length portrait of George Bridges Rodney (bap. 1718, d. 1792) in admiral’s undress uniform, 1783–87, with the sash and star of the Order of the Bath, leaning on his sword with his left hand and pointing with his right. He stands on the deck of a ship with captured French colours draped behind him and a burning ship in the distance. The background alludes to the victory of Rodney’s fleet over the French at the Battle of the Saints, which took place off Dominica on 12 April 1782. Lettered beneath the image with the title, ‘George Brydges Rodney K.B.’, and the engraver’s name, ‘R. Josey’. This portrait was engraved by Richard Josey after Thomas Gainsborough’s oil painting of 1783–6, which is now in the collection of the Earl of Rosebery. The print was published by Henry Graves in 1874. Gainsborough’s painting was first engraved by the artist’s nephew Gainsborough Dupont and published by Benjamin Beale Evans in 1788 (see PAJ2603). (Updated May 2019.)
Technique includes etching.