Essential Information
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and Times | Wednesday 14 June | 1pm-1.30pm |
| Prices | Free |
In September 2021, Royal Museums Greenwich acquired a rare group portrait of three men in a ship’s cabin by the little-known but important artist Tilly Kettle.
The painting dates from 1768 and is regarded as the artist’s masterpiece. It is unusual because of the emphasis it places upon naval bureaucracy.
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Whereas other nautical portraits include battle scenes and storms, this painting features letters and documents. Sir Samuel Cornish is the senior officer in the portrait, but his secretary, a man called Thomas Parry, takes centre stage.
Who was Thomas Parry and why is he so prominent in this portrait? This free talk will answer these questions, uncovering a complex story which exemplifies the interrelation of art, the navy, migration and trade during a formative phase in Britain’s maritime history.
About the speaker
Dr Katherine Gazzard is Curator of Art (post-1800) at Royal Museums Greenwich. She has taught courses on art history and museum studies for the University of East Anglia and Yale University. Her research focusses on 18th-century British art, especially portraiture, and the cultural history of the Royal Navy.
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A Sea of Faces
This talk is part of ‘A Sea of Faces’, a series of events celebrating portraiture. Royal Museums Greenwich hold the third largest collection of portraits in the UK. Strengths of our collection include naval and royal portraits, but there are also many unexpected gems.
Royal Museums Greenwich is taking part in 'Portrait Mode' with the National Portrait Gallery throughout June and July. The National Portrait Gallery is encouraging everyone to get into 'Portrait Mode' this summer to mark the reopening of the Gallery on 22 June following a major transformation project.
What’s On
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