Captn Edgcumbe

A half-length portrait of George Edgcumbe, first earl of Mount Edgcumbe (1720–1795), in captain’s undress uniform, 1748–1767, resting his right hand on an anchor. He stands in front of a cliff with a ship in the distance. Lettered beneath the image with the title ‘Captain Edgcumbe.’ Also lettered with the production details and publication line: ‘J. Reynolds Pinxt. S. W. Reynolds Sculpt. Published by the Engraver Nov. 21st 1821 Bayswater.’ This print was engraved in mezzotint in 1821 by Samuel William Reynolds after an original painting by Joshua Reynolds. Reynolds’s painting was probably produced in 1758–9; it was destroyed by bombing in World War II. Joshua Reynolds was friends with Edgcumbe and painted his portrait on several occasions. The National Maritime Museum owns another portrait of Edgcumbe by Joshua Reynolds (see BHC2677). Samuel William Reynolds was a successful mezzotint engraver, who produced a large number of engravings after works by his namesake Sir Joshua Reynolds (no relation) in the 1820s. (Updated April 2019.)

Object Details

ID: PAD3023
Type: Print
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Reynolds, Samuel William; Reynolds, Joshua
Date made: 21 Nov 1821
People: Edgcumbe, George
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Mount: 228 mm x 164 mm