Sir George Brydges Rodney, Bart, Admiral of the White, and Rear Admiral of Great Britain

A three-quarter-length portrait of George Bridges Rodney (bap. 1718, d. 1792) in flag officer’s undress uniform, 1748–67, wearing a hat and holding sword in his right hand, the blade pointing to right. He stands in front of a fluttering British ensign with a naval engagement in a background, including a burning ship. The engagement in the background represents the Moonlight Battle, which took place off Cape St Vincent on 16 January 1780. Rodney’s fleet defeated a Spanish convoy of 22 ships, taking a number of valuable prizes. The exploding ship in the background of this portrait is the Spanish ‘San Domingo’, 70 guns, which blew up and sank with the loss of all hands forty minutes into the action. Lettered beneath the image with the title: ‘Sir George Brydges Rodney, Bart. Admiral of the White, and Rear Admiral of Great Britain.’ Also lettered with the production details and publication line: ‘Painted by Hugh Barron. / Engraved by V. Green Mezzotinto Engraver to his Majesty & the Elector Palatine. / Publish’d June 1st 1780 by V. Green, No.29 Newman Street, Oxford Street.’ This portrait was engraved and published by Valentine Green in 1780 after a painting by Hugh Barron. (Updated May 2019.)

Object Details

ID: PAG9392
Type: Print
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Baron, Hugh; Green, Valentine
Date made: 1 Jun 1780
People: Rodney, George Brydges
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Caldwell Collection
Measurements: Sheet: 512 x 382 mm; Plate: 482 x 325 mm