Vice-Admiral Sir William George Fairfax (1739–1813)
Sir Martin Archer Shee (Dublin 1769 - Brighton 1850)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1798 (exh. RA)
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1245 x 991 mm (49 x 39 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Charlecote Park, Warwickshire
NT 533865
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Vice Admiral, Sir William George Fairfax (1739-1813) by Sir Martin Archer Shee PRA (Dublin 1769 – Brighton 1850), exh. RA 1798. A three-quarter-length portrait, with the subject standing and looking slightly right. Set in a landscape setting he is wearing a naval/admiral uniform. He is holding a telescope in his right hand and his hat in his left. His right arm is resting on a cannon and behind him on the left is a standard. In a large giltwood frame with plaque ‘Vice Admiral Sir William George Fairfax B.1738. D.181 By Sir Martin Archer Shee PRA’. Exhibited Royal Academy, London, 1798, no. 63 'Portrait of Sir W. Geo. Fairfax, Captain of the Venerable'. Vice Admiral, Sir William George Fairfax (1739-1818) was present at the taking of Quebec 1759, he was also Flag Captain at Battle of Camperdown 1797. He married firstly Hannah Spears and secondly a daughter of Samuel Charters.
Provenance
On loan from Sir Edmund Fairfax-Lucy, 6th Bt (b. 1945).
Marks and inscriptions
plaque ‘Vice Admiral Sir William George Fairfax B.1738. D.181 By Sir Martin Archer Shee PRA’.
Makers and roles
Sir Martin Archer Shee (Dublin 1769 - Brighton 1850), artist