Circle of Cornelius Johnson (British, 1593-1661) Portrait of...

Hammer

£14,000

Circle of Cornelius Johnson (British, 1593-1661) Portrait of Vice-Admiral James Peacock, circa 1651 the sitter portrayed half-length, wearing a dark coat with tasselled lace collar and a medallion suspended from a gold chain, within a simulated oval reserve oil on canvas 73.5 x 61cm, excluding tooled leather-inset frame * Provenance- By direct family descent * Notes-The reverse of the frame bearing a label inscribed with the family provenance and typed inscription 'Exhibition - Lent by Mrs A. S. Johns, St Catharine's College Lodge, Cambridge - Portrait of Vice-Admiral James Peacock' followed by the sitter's biography. The hand-written note is dated 1911, and also refers to a list on the back of the portrait. During his illustrious naval career, James Peacock (d. 1653), a merchant and sea captain from Ipswich, captained various frigates including first the HMS 'Warwick ' in 1647, then HMS 'Tiger' and later HMS 'Triumph'. He is best-known for his part in the war efforts against the Dutch in the first Anglo-Dutch war, first as Vice-Admiral of the White Squadron aboard HMS 'Rainbow', taking part in the Battle of Portland, and later as Vice-Admiral of the Red Squadron, again on HMS 'Triumph'. It was in this capacity that he met his eventual demise, at the Battle of Scheveningen in 1653. In 1650-1, Peacock was awarded, by the Council of State, a gold medal to the value of £50 for his services. This is likely to be the medal he is wearing on a chain in the portrait placing the present picture in the last few years before his death.