The Mate of the Polacre, who was on Board the 'Dover Castle'
Lady Henrietta Antonia Clive, Lady Williams-Wynn (d.1835)
Category
Art / Drawings and watercolours
Date
1798
Materials
Watercolour on paper
Measurements
200 mm (H); 215 mm (W)
Order this imageCollection
Powis Castle and Garden, Powys
NT 1180779
Summary
Watercolour on paper, The Mate of the Polacre who was on board the 'Dover Castle', by Lady Henrietta Antonia Clive, later Lady Williams-Wynn (1786-1835) after Anna Tonelli (c.1763-1846). Painted May 23rd 1798. Turned facing the right, wearing ' a red silk jacket and over it a red cloth waistcoat, and over that a blue cloth one, a little black petticoat that reached to his knees,...and a red cloth cap with a black rose on top of it'. Inscription - 'H.A.Clive, May/23rd 1798' and 'The portrait of the Mate of the Polacre who was on board the Dover Castle'.
Provenance
Painted on board the 'Dover Castle' during the outward voyage to India, 24 March-21 August 1798. The 'Polacre' was a Turkish vessel bound for Spain briefly captured by the British convoy. Charlotte Clive (1787-1866) noted in her diary: 'The Chief Mate was a black, and was born at cape Lidico, in the Island of Candia. His name is Don Demetrio Christofolo. he was dressed in a red silk jacket, and over it a red cloth waistcoat, and over that a blue one, a little black petticoat that reached to his knees, a sash of different colours round his waist and a red cloth cap with a black rose at the top of it.' Purchased by the National Trust with funding from The National Heritage Memorial Fund from John George Herbert, 8th Earl of Powis and Powis Estate Trustees in August 1999.
Marks and inscriptions
H.A.Clive, May/23rd 1798 (and) The portrait of the Mate of the Polacre who was on board the Dover Castle
Makers and roles
Lady Henrietta Antonia Clive, Lady Williams-Wynn (d.1835), artist after Anna Tonelli (Florence c.1763 – Florence 1846), original artist
References
Archer, Rowell and Skelton 1987 Mildred Archer, Christopher Rowell, and Robert Skelton, Treasures from India: The Clive Collection at Powis Castle, London, 1987, p.138, no.238 Chu 2018 John Chu, ‘Game of Thrones in an 'Asiatic World': Henrietta Clive and Anna Tonelli in British India’, National Trust Historic Houses & Collections Annual, 2018, pp.40-1