Lot 174: Denis Brownell Murphy (Irish, c.1745-1842)

An important portrait of Adam Duncan, Admiral Duncan of Camperdown (1731-1804), wearing Naval uniform, blue coat with gold epaulettes, breast star of the Order of the Garter, red ribbon, white cravat and black stock
enamel, inscribed on the counter-enamel Lord Visc Duncan/ 1804/ in Enamel by D B Murphy, rectangular black wood frame with ormolu slip
Octagonal, 79mm. (3 1/8ins.) high

Royal Naval Exhibition, Chelsea, 1891, no.1823, lent by the above

Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, vol.I, p.163

Miss Morison Duncan

Murphy was born in Dublin, but moved to England in 1798. In 1810 he was appointed Painter in Ordinary to Princess Charlotte. Whilst he appears to have been extremely prolific, his work is rarely seen today. The Gilbert Collection contains a set of seven octagonal enamels of the same dimensions and date depicting Scottish royalty. The present lot, enamelled just prior to Duncan's death, is an important portrait in the iconography of the admiral, and appears to have stayed within the possession of his descendants at least until 1891.
Duncan entered the navy in 1746. He was present at the actions of the Basque Roads (1757), Goree (1758), the blockade of Brest (1759) and commanded HMS Valiant at Havana (1762). After this he saw no further active service until 1778, when he was appointed to HMS Suffolk. In 1782 he became first lord of the Admiralty, and in the Blenheim took part in the relief of Gibraltar.
In 1795, he was promoted admiral, and was commander-in-chief of the Venerable. On October 11, 1797, he obtained a decisive victory over the Dutch fleet off the village of Camperdown. For his great victory, he was awarded a pension of £2,000 and created Baron Duncan of Lundie and Viscount Duncan of Camperdown. When war again broke out in 1804 he went to London, intending to offer his services to the Government, but whilst attending at the Admiralty he was struck down with apoplexy, and was obliged to return home to Scotland. Whilst on the way he was seized with a second apoplectic fit, and died at Cornhill, Berwickshire, on 4th August, 1804.