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John Thomas Serres (British, 1759-1825) The Amazon entering the Harbour of St Lucia; The Amazon in a hurricane; The Amazon shipwrecked oil on canvas (3) 74 x 109cm (29 x 43in) Provenance: Presumably commissioned by the Hon. William Clement Finch (1753-1794), son of Heneage, 3rd Earl of Aylesford, and thence by family descent at Packington Hall, WarwickshireOther Notes: The Amazon was the second vessel of this name, a 32-gun frigate which was launched on the Thames in 1773. She weighed 687 tons and carried a crew of 220 men. She was commanded by the Hon. William Clement Finch (1753-1794). William Finch was the third son of Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Aylesford, and his wife, Lady Charlotte Seymour, daughter of 6th Duke of Somerset. There was a strong naval pedigree in the family - William Finch was the great-grandson of Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea, who served as First Lord of the Admiralty. William became a Lieutenant in 1772, a Commander in 1776, and a Captain in 1777. He finally reached the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue in 1794. The second and third compositions depict the Amazon caught in a disastrous hurricane which swept across the West Indies in 1780. The British Navy lost thirteen vessels in this storm, and the coastal fortifications on some of the islands suffered severe damage. John Thomas Serres was born in London in 1759 to Dominic Serres, a prominent painter and a founder of the Royal Academy. Instructed by his father, John was involved in the publication of the maritime painter's guide, 'Liber Nauticus', and he soon developed a successful independent painting career - the Royal Academy and British Institution exhibiting over 100 of his paintings over his lifetime. He also became Master of Drawing at the Royal Naval College in Chelsea and in 1793 was made Marine Painter to the King after his father's death. Serres' successful career was badly damaged in the early 19th century by the activities of his wife, Olivia Serres, who came to believe that she was the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Cumberland and publicly pressed her "claim" to his estate, insisting on being addressed as "Princess Olive of Cumberland". Consequently, out of favour at court, Serres was forced to attempt to recoup his losses by investing in the theatre, setting up the Royal Coburg Theatre in 1818. This eventually became known as the "Old Vic". However, his wife's activities again ruined him and he died in 1825 in a London debtors' prison.  HMS Amazon was nearly wrecked but somehow miraculously survived this incidentCONDITION:The Amazon entering the Harbour of St Lucia - Oil on canvas which has been lined. There are minor undulations to the canvas, at the upper left corner there are diagonal deformations. There are also small dents to the paint and canvas in this area. In the cliff at the left hand edge there is an old tear which has been repaired and retouched but has raised edges. The paint layer is stable overall but is compromised by an old and dirty varnish layer which is matte and uneven. In some the varnish is flaking off leaving lighter patches visible. There is wear to the gilded surface of the frame and losses to the gesso.The Amazon in a hurricane (date will be early approx. 1790 - 1837 due to canvas stamp on the reverse) - Oil on canvas, the canvas is unlined and has tax stamp on the reverse. The canvas is slightly slack with minor undulations across the surface and stretcher bar marks. The paint layer has a network of age and impact craquelure across the surface. There is flaking and small losses along the lower edges. There is likely to be more than one varnish layer. The surface gloss overall is even and semi matte, but in light paint passages there is a grubby, patchy appearance which could be residues of an older varnish layer below. The outer edge of the frame is worn with losses to the gesso and gilding at the bottom edge.The Amazon shipwrecked - Oil on canvas which has been lined. The canvas is slack and has undulations across the surface. There are numerous patches on the reverse of the canvas repairing small damages, although the losses remain unfilled. There is a tear at the upper left corner. There are areas of raised paint following the lines of craquelure and impact cracks. There are retouchings around areas of damage. The varnish is semi-glossy and clear. The frame has losses to the mouldings and the gilding is worn.   

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