Lieutenant Gabriel Bray, RN
Feb. 17th, 2012 10:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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rikibeth and donnaimmaculata have been discussing 18th century grooming habits (What Lovely Locks You Have) which reminded me of something I've been meaning to post for ages. Or rather someone. Allow me to introduce the gorgeous Lieutenant Gabriel Bray.
This beautifully intimate self portrait was painted by Bray while he served as second lieutenant aboard HMS Pallas in 1775. Although he appears to have been an exemplary officer, Bray lacked sufficient interest to rise to the rank of post-captain. However Bray was also a talented artist and over the course of the four years he served aboard the Pallas under Captain the Hon. William Cornwallis, he painted many of the daily scenes he saw about him. Bray's art presents a very personal contemporary record of life above and below decks aboard an 18th century man of war. In addition Bray also sketched many of the indigenous people that he encountered during the Pallas cruise to West Africa.
All of Bray's paintings are fascinating but it's the imagine of him shaving that captivates me. It's such an ordinary activity but one that we very rarely see. I love the way his hair is casually tied up on top of his head and his complete absorption in his task. Even the little detail of the folding mirror stand is fascinating.
Incidentally there is a Bray among the young gentleman of the Indefatigable butnodbear has done a little research and there doesn't seem to be any direct relation to the lovely Gabriel.
I've copied some more of Bray's sketches below the cut and you can view the entire collection of Bray's work at the National Maritime Museum's wonderful online collections viewer here.
(Click through to the images for a full text description from the NMM catalogue)
following_sea rikibeth and donnaimmaculata have been discussing 18th century grooming habits (What Lovely Locks You Have) which reminded me of something I've been meaning to post for ages. Or rather someone. Allow me to introduce the gorgeous Lieutenant Gabriel Bray. This beautifully intimate self portrait was painted by Bray while he served as second lieutenant aboard HMS Pallas in 1775. Although he appears to have been an exemplary officer, Bray lacked sufficient interest to rise to the rank of post-captain. However Bray was also a talented artist and over the course of the four years he served aboard the Pallas under Captain the Hon. William Cornwallis, he painted many of the daily scenes he saw about him. Bray's art presents a very personal contemporary record of life above and below decks aboard an 18th century man of war. In addition Bray also sketched many of the indigenous people that he encountered during the Pallas cruise to West Africa.
All of Bray's paintings are fascinating but it's the imagine of him shaving that captivates me. It's such an ordinary activity but one that we very rarely see. I love the way his hair is casually tied up on top of his head and his complete absorption in his task. Even the little detail of the folding mirror stand is fascinating.
Incidentally there is a Bray among the young gentleman of the Indefatigable but
nodbear has done a little research and there doesn't seem to be any direct relation to the lovely Gabriel. I've copied some more of Bray's sketches below the cut and you can view the entire collection of Bray's work at the National Maritime Museum's wonderful online collections viewer here.
(Click through to the images for a full text description from the NMM catalogue)
 Lieutenant Gabriel Bray sketching in watercolours |
 Mr James Cornwallis, Pallas, March 75 |
 Two Marines on the Pallas's Gangway, Jany 75 |
 Seaman leaning on a gun on the 'Pallas' |
 Taken on board the Pallas at sea, Jany 75 |
 Under the Pallas's half deck |
 A Marine asleep beneath a companionway on the 'Pallas' |
 Seamen relaxing on the Pallas |
 The Sailmaker ticketting the Hammocks on board the Pallas, Nov 74 |
 Sketch between Decks, May 75 |
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no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 11:57 am (UTC)Made a mental note to myself: Roam anteros journal more often :)
(...and visit the NMM asap!)
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 05:30 pm (UTC)Clearly you are a girl after my own heart ;)
He does look rather like a young Jack, doesn't he?!
men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-17 06:55 pm (UTC)He does! I would die for a man with long hair, honestly :)
Btw: Why had sailors hair that long? Must have been dangerous in battle, I mean...
Re: men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-17 10:13 pm (UTC)Why had sailors hair that long? Must have been dangerous in battle, I mean...
Tradition I think. Sailors could be very traditional and quite superstitious in many ways. I think short hair would have been seen as an affected fashion.
Re: men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-18 12:30 am (UTC)http://www.goatlocker.org/resources/nav/trivia.htm
Look under 'Bib' :) I once read another article about long hair. It is said, long hair, either on men or women, connects a person to the earth's magic. In ancient times we had more respect for mother nature. Now, that we (mostly) cut off our hair we are no longer affected by things I still call important: all the living creatures, be it on land, water or air. Cutting off our hair we lose this 'root', so to say.
Off to bed with me :) Half past one already :) Dreaming of, yes! a young captain Aubrey, with loooooooooooooooooooong hair and his doctor at his side :)
Re: men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-18 10:24 am (UTC)On a less attractive note-- some sailors used to put hair in an old used eel-skin. This may not have been a Navy thing.
Re: men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-19 12:08 am (UTC)Eel skin?!! Eewwww! That is way too much information!
Re: men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-18 07:14 pm (UTC)Dave
Re: men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-19 12:09 am (UTC)Re: men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-19 01:20 am (UTC)Re: men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-21 10:35 am (UTC)I daren't ask!! Sound like Pellew's menagerie! ;)
Re: men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-19 05:55 pm (UTC)Dave
Re: men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-21 10:36 am (UTC)Re: men with long hair
Date: 2012-02-19 12:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 12:21 pm (UTC)The simple abbreviations make their lives so "contemporary" - it could be 19"75" as well as 17"75". This is the kind of thing that allows me to appreciate the actuality of these lives as opposed to the fictional characters we so admire!
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 05:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-18 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-19 12:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 12:31 pm (UTC)The rest of these are lovely, too, and a real inspiration. Thanks a lot for posting.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 05:34 pm (UTC)One of my probably- will- never- finish stories is Stephen M shaving Jack Aubrey. Mmm. Possibly more than you wanted to know.
No not at all! Tell me more! :)
*ahem* If you have a thing about shaving you might enjoy this...The Silver Razor.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-18 12:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 12:34 pm (UTC)I love that Bray just painted what he saw. Those marines appear to be grooming eyebrows!
The hair in the first one makes me laugh. My son has hair just like that. And he piles it up the same way. And Ameraal is right of course. It could be Jack, especially with that rose and milk skin.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 05:38 pm (UTC)I'm not sure what the marines are up to but they look very at ease with each other!
The hair in the first one makes me laugh. My son has hair just like that. And he piles it up the same way.
Hehe! My partner has hair like this too! :D
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 02:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 05:44 pm (UTC)Conrwallis looks like he's reading a comic!
It does! Though he's actually looking at Bray's sketch book and the image he's looking at appears to be this one.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-18 04:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-19 12:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 02:18 pm (UTC)They look very modern; Seaman leaning on a gun could be almost impressionistic. There's a plasticity to them that didn't exist in olden-day paintings. A Marine asleep and Seaman relaxing are almost three-dimensional.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 05:48 pm (UTC)The paintings are amazing aren't they? I find them really evocative. There are other paintings by Bray among the NMM collection of more classical subjects and rural scenes but they are a pale shadow of his wonderful shipboard sketches.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 05:28 pm (UTC)Thank you for posting it!
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Date: 2012-02-17 05:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 06:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 09:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 06:22 pm (UTC)What is with me, that I see a cat in the mirror's support?
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 09:52 pm (UTC)And it's not just you that thinks the mirror looks like a cat! Look at
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 10:42 pm (UTC)Did he see that too, having the picture finished? *g*
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Date: 2012-02-19 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 08:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 09:54 pm (UTC)He must have been a good man, to paint people with such tolerant affection.
You can really see how the ships were places where men just had to wedge in wherever they could, among all the stuff the ship needed for itself. That feeling, on Navy ships has not changed. My husband used to nap on top of the steam boiler. (Also they made a horrible sort of booze down there called 'bilge wine.' It uses fruit juice as a starter...He did not drink it, but many did! It was ever thus.)
I especially like Bray's painting of the African girl with the fancy hair, oh and the mid's. And the sailor with his hammock, and the elegant man going pee. Oh they are are wonderful.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 10:05 pm (UTC)He must have been a good man, to paint people with such tolerant affection.
I'm sure you're right.
You can really see how the ships were places where men just had to wedge in wherever they could, among all the stuff the ship needed for itself.
Yes, that's one of the things I noticed too! I love the mid snoozing against the taffrail and the marines tucked into nooks and crannies. I'm not sure I like the sound of the bilge wine though :}
I especially like Bray's painting of the African girl with the fancy hair
She's beautiful isn't she? I wonder what kind of life she had?
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 10:35 pm (UTC)As for spending the day with Bray-- I only wish. You know what else I notice, is the air of contentment he depicts on the ship. Nobody looks worried or unhappy, or confused. It is all so serene. What do you think of that?
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 11:06 pm (UTC)I'm afraid you may be right but we can hope.
As for spending the day with Bray-- I only wish.
I'll bet! Like you have nothing better to do all day than sitting around admiring handsome young lieutenants :} I have the in-laws staying this weekend, however everyone has kindly gone to bed and I have glorious peace and quiet so the first thing I am going to do is read your L&O fic :D
You're right about the Pallas crew looking very contented. Cornwallis was a good captain I think. It seems like he retained the respect of the fleet throughout his long career.
ETA Wonky markup ate half my comment. Oops!
no subject
Date: 2012-02-17 09:55 pm (UTC)