AFTER SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE (ENGLISH, 1769-1830)
Portrait of Sir John Franklin in Full Dress Uniform
Oil on canvas
35½ x 27½in. (90 x 70cm.)

Sir John Franklin (1786-1847) was a veteran of several Polar voyages beginning in 1818 with John Ross. His resulting celebrity ensured he became a career explorer and this perhaps coloured the Navy's decision to choose him at the advanced age of fifty-nine to lead his final and fateful expedition to find the Northwest passage in 1845. The ensuing drama and mystery of what tragedy befell H.M. Ships Erebus and Terror has long been a cause of speculation. However, the Canadian Arctic Survey (Parks Canada) found them in 2014 and 2016 and so they may yet reveal some answers. The relative youth of the sitter in this portrait suggests it was painted to commemorate Franklin's promotion to Captain in 1822. At this date, however, uniform flashing was blue in colour, and between 1830-43 it was scarlet - the uniform remained the same in all other respects. This suggests the picture was modernised with white flashing after 1843 -- something perhaps only an owner such as the sitter would take the trouble to do;

Condition Report
Craquellured overall and paint shrinkage. Old wear and dirt. 2in tear on lower cuff. In need of a clean..

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