203rd Anniversary of Admiral Lord Collingwood’s Death - and a Portrait (or isn’t it?)

[joyful_molly]

While countless activities in and around Morpeth were taking place today to remember our highly esteemed Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, those of us who couldn’t attend unveilings and speeches were left with a puzzle. I recently stumbled over this alleged portrait of “Admiral Collingwood” which is attributed to John Hoppner.

Comments

[eglantine_br]

We don't need a portrait to hold him in mind... Whatever he looks like, and however dressed.

(Does anyone else remember the Collingwood underwear line? 'Nights out with the Naughty Northumbrian?')

Raises Red Bull in salute.

[anteros_lmc]

I remember! Though the less said the better ;)

And I'll see your Red Bull and raise you a red wine ;)

[anteros_lmc]

Yes, this is a bit odd. Wasn't he made captain in 1780 and Rear Admiral of the White 1799? If this was pained in 1787, then he would have been a captain of seven years standing, ergo more tinsel on both shoulders. If you showed me this painting and said "guess the rank" I'd have gone for lieutenant or captain of less than three years standing due to lack of visible epaulette. (Btw this is all off the top of my head, I can get the books out tomorrow morning to double check uniform convention dates). Though I should add I have seen pictures of captains which have been labelled with their subsequent higher ranks so that may be what's happening here.

[ylla]

If wikipedia can be trusted:

'After 1795, when they were first introduced on Royal Navy uniforms, the number and position of epaulettes distinguished between commanders and post-captains of various seniorities. A commander wore a single epaulette on the left shoulder. A post-captain with less than three years seniority wore a single epaulette on the right shoulder, and a post-captain with three or more years seniority wore an epaulette on each shoulder.'

[anteros_lmc]

That's sounds about right. I can never remember which shoulder the epaulets go on without checking :}

[rikibeth]

I can remember the shoulders for the epaulettes because of Jack Aubrey's delight when Tom the porter switched his from left to right for him when he was made post -- but, if the epaulettes weren't introduced until 1795, then that's a plausible captain's uniform, and I do think that the nose and chin and eyebrows show similar bone structure.

Also, when he was younger, he was a cutie!

[oloriel]

I have no clue, but for what it's worth, I could well imagine that the John Hoppner painting fellow is a young Cuddy. The chin fits, the nose fits, the eyebrows fit... So maybe Hoppner painted Captain Collingwood, and the painting was renamed after the fact?

Mind you, that's just speculation. As I said, I haven't the foggiest.

*raises her cup of Black Tea The Frisian Way :P*

[ylla]

Especially the nose :)

And (although I'm certainly not saying this is conclusive), if you can unimagine the old-fashioned hairstyle, it's a geordie face - there's almost a family resemblance through the north east, which I suppose is really the scandinavian influence, and he's got it! I think that's cute :)

[ylla]

(Comment copied from oldcuddy

more about the nose

[rikibeth]

I think his nose bears a certain resemblance to the fellow in my icon. Wouldn't it be nice to have Samuel West play him in a biopic?

Okay, I'm biased. I'd watch Samuel West in pretty much anything. But it would be extra nice to see him in something like that.