Dinner. Fetching lee-way.

[anteros_lmc]

Back when nodbear and I wrote Eyes to See and Lord Exmouth's Commission, both fics were kind of based on the idea that Admiralty Artist John Thomas Serres must have sketched or painted some of the officers and men that he met when he sailed with the Indefatigable and the Inshore Squadron between 1799 and 1800. At the time, that was purely wishful thinking on our part, however it turns out that the British Museum does actually have a Serres sketch of life aboard one of the ships of the Inshore Squadron! And here it is :)




Dinner. Fetching lee-way; or, one of the comforts of a channel cruize in November

The name on the gun indicates that this sketch illustrates a scene aboard HMS Clyde, Captain Charles Cunningham. Cunningham, who Serres greatly admired, was a highly regarded commander who had served as Nelson's first lieutenant on the Hinchinbrook and who distinguished himself in 1797 as the only captain at the Nore who retained command of his crew and got his ship away from the anchorage when mutiny broke out.



Captain Sir Charles Cunningham
Serres spent several months on the Clyde in 1800, working closely with the master Thomas Nott to chart the coasts of France, Spain and Portugal. This print is thought to be part of a series, though sadly this is the only one that appears to have survived. I live in hope that the elusive sketch of Lt Kennedy will turn up one day ;)

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

So lively. What an eye Serres had. He saw in such sharp detail, and yet he remained so kind and sort of amused, didn't he? This is delightful.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely picture isn't it? Really affectionate. I love that the captain does actually look like Cunningham!

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

How lovely to be back in the swing of things. Have missed these little gems!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Lovely to have you back m'dear!

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

The chap on the right is doing okay - boots braced on the deck, back firmly against his chair back. I love his little smirk!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I think the chap on the right is an old hand at this game. Judging by the epaulette he must be a commander or a junior captain. I love the way the lieutenant seems to be trying to catch his hand!

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Mike says, as usual that today's Navy has something of the same flavor sometimes.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Hehe! I can just imagine!

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Why is that one boy holding his cup on his head? Looks unwise. Also the guy walking across the floor seems to have a dish of watermelon.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Hehe! I don't think watermelon was one of the comforts of channel cruize in November XD The British Museum catalogue notes suggest that it's a ham. However they also describe at least two of the officers as midshipmen and note: "though the scene is unlike the cramped squalor of the midshipmen's berth." It seems to me that only the laddie holding his cup in the air is a mid, and they are obviously having dinner with the captain in the great cabin!

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Maybe the cup in the air boy is trying to make a toast.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

"Confusion to Robespierre!"

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

He would certainly be confused by the conditions in that cabin!

[hyarrowen.livejournal.com]

That's a great action shot, and must have caused some hilarity if he showed it to the officers concerned once he'd finished it.

I like his portrait of Captain Cunningham, too - he obviously liked the man.

In "Eyes of the Admiralty" it says at the end that he undertook commissions for the Admiralty after his cruise with the Channel fleet. I like to think that, as well as various clandestine missions, he went to the Cape and painted Fanny Harville's portrait there.