Admiral John Jervis, 1735-1823, 1st Earl of St Vincent

A full-length portrait to left in admiral's full-dress uniform, 1795-1812, wearing the ribbon and Star of the Bath and the St Vincent medal. Jervis's right hand rests on his sheathed sword in front of him. Behind him is a large gilded table, covered with a red cloth, bearing on the right his hat and telescope and, on the left, an inscribed letter. To the left of this is a chair with a large rolled map leaning against it, and beyond a large terrestrial globe. Through a large window on the left, ships of the British fleet in Lisbon harbour are visible. On the right, a rostral column has been positioned. The portrait was painted in Lisbon during his last sea command in 1806.

In 1797, he won a crushing and much needed victory over the Spanish off Cape St Vincent. In 1799, he commanded the Channel fleet in a close blockade of the French fleet at Brest. His period as first Lord of the Admiralty made him many enemies as he fearlessly denounced corruption in high places and in low. In 1806, he took the Channel fleet to sea for the last time. However, it was now a fleet whose authority on the sea could not be challenged, largely due to years of untiring effort by its commander.

Object Details

ID: BHC3003
Collection: Fine art
Type: Painting
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Pellegrini, Domenico
Date made: 1806
People: Jervis, John
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Caird Fund.
Measurements: Painting: 2375 x 1475 mm; Frame size : tbc
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