Edward Boscawen

This portraitback to top

NPG 44 is an early copy after the whole length at Tregothnan, Falmouth collection, for which Boscawen sat in 1755. [1] The waistcoat collar, shown as if it were a continuation of the coat collar, is apparently a misunderstanding of Reynolds' original, and is repeated in such derivatives as the engraving by C. Bestland, 1801. An x-ray of NPG 44 shows widespread underpainting in the area of the head but no clear alternative pattern emerges. It is possible that there was another, though unconnected, head at right angles to the present painting.

Footnotesback to top

1) The Tregothnan portrait has not been reproduced, and is not mentioned by Sir Ellis K. Waterhouse, Reynolds's 'Sitter Book' for 1755.

Physical descriptionback to top

Pale grey eyes, long nose, short upper lip, grey wig tied behind; light blue uniform with grey [1] facings and gold frogging (flag officer's undress, 1748-67), white shirt ruffle; brown background, dark shadow down right side; lit from top left.

1) White, in shadow; grey facings not contemporary.

Conservationback to top

Surface cleaned and varnished, 1895.

Provenanceback to top

Presented, 1858, by Viscount Falmouth.

Exhibitionsback to top

British Institution, 1846 (18); 'Royal Naval Exhibition', 1891 (315).

Reproductionsback to top

The type engraved by J. McArdell, whole length, as ‘Vice-Admiral of the Red Squadron' 1757, second state 1758, as 'Admiral of the Blue'.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Kerslake, Early Georgian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1977, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for Edward Boscawen

View all known portraits for Sir Joshua Reynolds