Date & Origin
Isle of Wight, England. c1810 period of George III
Condition
Excellent, age-related wear as shown.
Dimensions (Frame)
1 x Height: 31.6cm Width: 22.8cm.
2 x Height: 24.4cm Width: 20.6cm.
Weight
2000 grams
Technical Description
We have a series of three paintings, sold together, all by the same hand and all to a very high, detailed standard. The period dress is very much late 18th early 19th century in style and we suspect that the paintings were completed by either a patient or member of the forces during their stay at one of the military hospitals which were located on the Isle of Weight during the Napoleonic wars.
Below is a very good link giving some very detailed history of the hospitals at that time.
https://iowhospitals.org.uk/book10.php
The first and largest painting has the inscription ‘A: Doctor .85 and The Emperor of Morocco's trip comes to the army depot Isle of Wight’, the 2nd painting headed up ‘Old Sampson’ depicts a gentleman in military uniform and the third ‘Old Nap’ shows a patient in crutches.
All three are incredibly detailed using subtle colours and in excellent condition. The frames are later dating to the 1970s.
Historical Relevance
The Bonapartes originated in Italy, but Napoleon was born into a branch of the family that moved to Corsica. Growing up in Corsica, Napoleon’s first language was Italian, not French. However, as his family was well off (by Corsican standards), he and his brother Joseph were sent to military academies in France where he learned to speak French.
