James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez

Inscriptionback to top

Signed and dated lower right: PJ 1801

This portraitback to top

De Saumarez was in England for only a few days in 1801. His ship Caesar (84 guns) returning from patrol off the Black Rocks anchored off Plymouth 2 June and sailed again on 16 June 1801. The miniature, which was exhibited at the RA in May that year, must have been painted therefore in 1799-1800 during one of the Admiral's infrequent trips ashore. It is possible even that Jean, who worked in London, may have been forced to paint it on board in Cawsand Bay or Torbay. At least two versions were painted, engraved and published immediately to satisfy the demand for prints of the naval heroes. The print was used to illustrate his memoir in The European Magazine for October 1801, and with slight variations as a basis for the inset portrait in Smirke's 'Victors of the Nile' published by Bowyer in 1803.

Physical descriptionback to top

Three-quarter-length in rear-admiral's undress uniform, Ribbon and Star of the Bath and the Naval Gold Medals for St Vincent and the Nile; gold seal at waist, right hand on sword-hilt, left holding a roll of charts; narrow black belt, grey powdered hair, vivid blue eyes, fresh complexion, the features with a look of William Pitt; stern of a battleship in left background, rocks to right, stormy sky.

Provenanceback to top

Given by Lord De Saumarez 1932.

Exhibitionsback to top

(this or the Shrubland oval version)
RA 1801 (7) or RA 1802 (772).

Reproductionsback to top

(this or the Shrubland oval version)
Stipple by Ridley 1801 as Rear Admiral of the Blue published in The European Magazine, 1 October 1801 and Ross's Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord De Saumarez, 1838, I, frontispiece.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, 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 James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez