A Romantic-era oil portrait of a Royal Navy officer, painted by the Scottish master William Dyce.
The painting depicts Commander James Couper Bennett, born on January 6, 1801, in Edinburgh. He is wearing the dark regulation uniform of the Royal Navy (R.N.), distinguished by gold epaulettes and a red collar. He holds a spyglass (telescope) in his hand, a classic symbol in art used to represent a ship’s commander or navigator.
19th-century portraiture; British Royal Navy; Scottish aristocracy; Naval officers; Romanticism.
William Dyce was a museum-level artist, a favorite of Queen Victoria, and a pivotal figure who served as a bridge to the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. This portrait is an invaluable piece documenting his time in Edinburgh (1830-1837), a period during which he built a strong reputation painting Scottish high society before moving to London. Preserving the original frame and plaque is vital to maintaining its high value in the international art market.
Detailed descriptions of paper quality, margins, and preservation state.
Direct history of the collection’s origin.
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