Lot 49: Henry William Pickersgill, R.A.

Henry William Pickersgill, R.A.
1782-1875
portrait of sir charles james napier (1782-1853)
three-quarter length, standing, wearing uniform
oil on canvas
123 by 95 cm., 50 by 40 in.
After a distinguished career in the Peninsula War serving under Sir John Moore, during which time he was severely injured and taken prisoner at Corunna, Napier was promoted to Lt. Colonel in 1811. On Napoleon's escape from Elba, he volunteered again for service and was made C.B. in 1815. After the Napoleonic Wars he lived for some time in Cephalonia, became a friend of Byron and was offered the leadership of the Greek army which he turned down whilst making clear his sympathy for the Greeks. His reputation rests, however, on his campaigns in India in the 1840's where he suppressed revolts in the Sind. In 1841, with 2800 men he defeated a force of over 22000 near Miani after a desperate fight and he went on to defeat Shir Muhammad 'the Lion of Mirpur' at Dubba. Furthermore, he introduced a civil government to the region with a judiciary and an effective police force, for which he was warmly congratulated by the Duke of Wellington. He returned to England in 1850. He wrote books on the road sytem of Cephalonia, administration of the colonies, the defects of Indian government and military subjects.
Provenance:
The artist's studio sale, Christie's, 17th July 1875, lot 352;
Hampton and Sons, Pall Mall, London
Literature:
Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, 1973, Vol.I, p.334
Exhibited:
Royal Academy, 1852, no.110