Early in his career Gardner saw action at the Battle of Quiberon Bay, 1759. Much of his later career was spent on American and West Indian stations. In 1778 while commanding the ‘Maidstone’ he captured a large and heavily armed French merchantman. He commanded the ‘Sultan’ at Grenada, 1779, the ‘Duke’ at the Saints, 1782, and had his flag in the ‘Queen’ at the battle of the First of June, 1794. He was Commander-in-Chief on the coast of Ireland in 1801 and of the Channel Fleet in 1807. He is shown half-length in vice-admiral’s undress uniform, 1787–95, with the First of June gold chain, but not the medal. Signed and dated ‘A. Hickel, 1794’.

Karl Anton Hickel (1745–98) was born in Bohemia [Czech Republic] and trained in Vienna. He was appointed court painter to Josef II, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1785 and later worked in the court of Marie Antoinette (the emperor’s sister). He left France during the Revolution for London where he painted some of the most prominent polititians. He specialized in small oval portrait heads such as this one. He exhibited at the Free Society of Artists and the Royal Academy. Hickel died in Hamburg in 1798.