Framed and glazed pastel drawing, comprising a half-length portrait of a Royal Naval master's mate, holding a telescope under his his right arm. He is turned to sitter's left but looking out at the viewer. A ship on a sea horizon is in the lower right corner, with the suggestion of a shore cliff to the lower left. On the back of the frame is a label which misleadingly reads: 'Adam Buck - Born Cork 1759 Died London 1833. Pastel - John Russell. Uniforms - Royal Navy - Master's mate (uniform which afterwards became sub - Lieutenant.)' According to Neil Jeffares (personal communication, 17 Dec. 2010) the artist is not John Russell, as this label suggests, but the Irish-born Adam Buck (whose dates are those given), and of whose work this is a characteristic example of probably just after 1800. The sitter is therefore an unidentified one. [PvdM 12/10]