Admiral Cochrane: Exhibition Review

[anteros_lmc]

On Sunday nodbear and I went through to Edinburgh to see the National Museum of Scotland's new exhibition Admiral Cochrane: The Real Master and Commander. As esteven has already pointed out, it's really a rather small exhibition but it is beautifully presented and displayed, and in true AoS fandom style it opens with a short film on Cochrane that includes clips of Master and Commander and The Even Chance. I honestly never thought I would see both Jack Aubrey and Horatio Hornblower in the National Museum in Edinburgh! :D Sadly no Archie though *sniffle*

The exhibition charts Cochrane's life and career from his birth in Hamilton in 1775 through his early audacious naval career with the Speedy and the Pallas, his role at Basque Roads, his radical political career and conviction for stock market fraud, his role in establishing the navies of Chile and Brazil, return to Britain in 1828 and eventual pardon and restoration of his honours. Cochrane's story is told through portraits, contemporary broadsheets and satirical cartoons and a fascinating collection of personal effects including the watch he was presented with when he first went to sea, his swords, uniforms, honours and gifts presented to him and his wife.

Needless to say nodbear and I were entranced by the uniforms and we were also delighted to discover that rather than being "auburn", as he is often described, on the evidence of his portraits Cochrane was properly ginger! This puts him in that rare class of tall, determined red-heads exemplified by Sir Edward Pellew and my five year old daughter ;)

Marryat makes a small appearance in the exhibition as does another Scottish contemporary whose name I forget. What I do remember about this young chap though is that he took Scottish broadsword to sea with him and carried his claymore on boarding actions. Have you ever seen a claymore? They are terrifying!

Considerable emphasis is placed on Cochrane's years in Latin American and among the artefacts on display is a beautiful seachest presented to the Admiral by the people of Chile. The opening film also includes very moving footage of the Chilean Navy Day ceremony when the Chilean Ambassador and representatives of the Chilean Naval Mission lay a wreath on Cochrane's tomb in Westminster Abbey in May each year. Rather touchingly, the exhibition guide is prefaced by Pablo Neruda's poem Lord Cochrane de Chile and the Chilean Navy and the Pablo Neruda Foundation are listed amongst the sponsors.

On the downside of the exhibition, none of Cochrane's private letters and relatively few naval documents are on display. The log of the Pallas is displayed open and can be read but, rather frustratingly, the log of the Speedy is present but closed. Also there is no merchandise at all associated with the exhibition which is a little disappointing. Other than copies of David Cordingly's excellent biography of Cochrane, there is not a single catalogue, memento or postcard on sale :(

However as a Scot I think it's wonderful to see Cochrane finally getting some recognition in his native land and it seems fitting that the first exhibition in the newly refurbished National Museums of Scotland is dedicated to this remarkable man.

Comments

[essayel.livejournal.com]

This puts him in that rare class of tall, determined red-heads exemplified by Sir Edward Pellew and my five year old daughter ;)

That made me smile so much.

It sounds like a fantastic exhibition.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I suspect daughter is also in possession of a ginger temper to match Pellew and Cochrane's ;)

It's a lovely little exhibition. Small but beautifully presented!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

sometimes redder than others -but he is always a complete poser :-D
ROFL! Undoubtedly a complete poser!

At the very least a Mug Based on Lord Cochrane.
That would have made a fine addition to my growing collection of nautical mugs!

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Well, his hair is a lovely red in the portrait you have there. And he is handsome, yum. But his feet are a little...odd. They could not have been that small really, right?

I would add to the list of redheads, Archie. He is determined, as we know, but not really tall.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Hehe! nodbear commented on his teeny weeny feet too! And you know what they say about men with small feet...

I would add to the list of redheads, Archie. He is determined, as we know, but not really tall.
Archie is, of course, the apotheosis of determined redheads. The scene from Hornblower that is shown in the little film is the cutting out of the Papillion It made me very sad because you know Archie is lying unconscious in the boat below :'(

[esteven]

oh, so they have put out Cordingly's biography now? It wasn't there when feroxargentea and I saw the exhibition. I had sent them a mail expressing my displeasure about that when Mer Cordingly would even be a guest lecturer.

I would also have been glad about a Basque Roads teatowel or a Cochrane mug. *g* I asked about a copy of the big label booklet, but the ladies on guard were unable to find out within the hour I spent there Friday morning before I had to leave. *sighs*

His lordship certainly knew how to strike a pose. ;D

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Yes they had lots of copies of it for sale in the shop in the foyer. nodbear and I were wondering if they are maybe still waiting for merchandise to arrive. I can't believe they don't even have a single postcard! Hopefully I'll be going back for the Cordingly lecture so I'll have a look and see if they have anything available then.

His lordship certainly knew how to strike a pose. ;D
Didn't he just?!

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

It wsa a good day out and the exhibition is very well laid out indeed. It was especially good when bisected with a very nice lunch in between halves of viewing the exhibits:)

I agree with Anteros about the relative lack of letters and naval paperwork = though for many not quite so keen fangirls it is probably a good balance of things that are accessible.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It was especially good when bisected with a very nice lunch in between halves of viewing the exhibits:)
Indeed. What could be more perfect? Dashing navyboys, civilised lunch and doe-eyed waiters? ;)

though for many not quite so keen fangirls it is probably a good balance of things that are accessible.
I agree, I think for the casual visitor there is a very good balance of information and artefacts.

[esteven]

Marryat makes a small appearance in the exhibition as does another Scottish contemporary whose name I forget.
Napier? Cochrane's Pullings? ;D

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

May well have been Napier. I was hoping you might know! The claymore story it told in the same case that has the picture of Marryat. I shall check when I go back and take note!

I also meant to ask, do you know anything about the film of Cochrane's life that is mentioned in the exhibition film? The one with the actor in costume playing Cochrane. It that a Chilean film? Do you know if it's been released?

[esteven]

*nods*
Must be William Napier, Cochrane's lieutenant in Imperieuse I think. The small bust of Marryat is in the same cabinet. The Diario is a Spanish/Chilean movie and from what a friend told me, it must have been shown on British TV once. There does not seem to be a DVD released. *sighs*

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you are right about Napier being the owner of the somewhat anachronistic claymore! :D

The Diario is a Spanish/Chilean movie and from what a friend told me, it must have been shown on British TV once. There does not seem to be a DVD released.
Awww how disappointing! Do you happen to know what the full title of the film is?

[esteven]

Journey of a Residence in Chile. I'm afraid that's all I know. I had been so thrilled to see a few excerpts from it.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Surely we must be able to unearth a copy from somewhere.....Leave it with me and I'll see what I can turn up.

[esteven]

Thank you. :D

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

Excuse me what about sqaut determined red heads!

It's quite interesting they've so few documents on display, I wonder what sort of feedback they've had for other exhibitions, to be honest it's not the sort of thing I look for as I struggle so much to read them.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Excuse me what about squat determined red heads!
If Bartholomew is determined to squat then he will have to go outside! Lord H has never forgiven him for squatting in his best hat....

It's quite interesting they've so few documents on display
I believe, from what esteven said, that there are restrictions on the Cochrane family archive. Although I think you are also right about the curators limiting the amount of text visitors might be expected to read.

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

*draws hearts around him*

[kittycallum.livejournal.com]

Quite, quite jealous! :D That sounds great -- although admittedly having a ship's log there but not open sounds just tantalizing. Still, it sounds like a very interesting exhibition and something of a dream-come-true for nautical fans! (Nice to have it open with such a film, too!) I'm glad you got to see it!

Claymores are rather terrifying aren't they? I've only seen one once, in a shop, but to see one in action must be the sort of thing to make a person hide under a table for about ten years. This young Scottish chap must have had good balance, those things do look heavy.

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

His balance and ability with the Claymnore is extra remarkable when you look at his feet. With feet like that I am surprised he could walk at all!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

The broadsword story related to someone else mentioned in the exhibition, esteven think it may have been Napier and I suspect she is correct.

Cochrane was certainly big enough to swing a claymore but you're absolutely right, with these teenyweeny feet he would just tip right over! ;)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

having a ship's log there but not open sounds just tantalizing
Aye, it was rather frustrating not being able to see the contents!

Still, it sounds like a very interesting exhibition and something of a dream-come-true for nautical fans!
It was just lovely to see such a fine collection of beautifully presented navyboy memorabilia :)

Claymores are rather terrifying aren't they?
Too right! Can you imagine someone coming over the side of your ship swinging a two-handed broadsword?! Yikes!

[vespican.livejournal.com]

I wonder if the small feet situation might have something to do with style... in the interpretation of a subject's appearance. I've noticed that in a lot of art work portraying various individuals, real or imagined, the person's feet seem to be minimalized to some extent. This seems to be most noticable in pictorial representations from the 1800s.
Dave

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Sadly I don't know the first thing about the development of painting styles and portraiture but I suspect you could well be right!

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

I think you are right Dave. Feet just aren't important. Most artists minimise them. But poor Corchrane seems to have an extreme case.

It can be startling the other way too. I remember looking at some work of Maurice Sendak, ('Dear Milli') and thinking the girls feet were huge. But, in fact they were about the length of her face-- about right.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

poor Corchrane seems to have an extreme case.
He does look like he is in immanent danger of tipping over doesn't he?!

I remember looking at some work of Maurice Sendak, ('Dear Milli') and thinking the girls feet were huge
I googled, and gosh yes I see what you mean! His characters' hands and feet are very prominent but if you take a second look they do actually seem to be in proportion!

Wonder what size JBs feet are....