Lot 184: Portrait of Admiral Peter Rainier (1741-1808), bust-length, in naval uniform and wearing a blue and white cameo and circular spectacles

Arthur William Devis (London 1762-1822) Portrait of Admiral Peter Rainier (1741-1808), bust-length, in naval uniform and wearing a blue and white cameo and circular spectacles oil on canvas, unlined 14 x 12 1/8 in. (35.6 x 30.8 cm.) in its original composition frame with an autograph note signed (‘B.W. Page’), giving a short biographical account of the distinguished life of Admiral Peter Rainier and a note on Page’s commission of ‘the above little sketch’ of his former shipmate, one page, 4to (laid down on the reverse of Rainier’s portrait).

35.6 x 30.8 cm.

London, South Kensington Museum, National Portraits Exhibition, 1867, no. 772. Leeds, National Exhibition of Works of Art, 1868, no. 1068.

Painted for Admiral Benjamin William Page (1765-1845) in 1805, by whom given to, The Rev. W.S. Halliday, Glenthorne, Lynton, Devon, and by descent to the present owner.

Admiral Peter Rainier (?1741-1808) who came from a Poiteran family that settled in Sandwich, entered the Navy in 1756, and during the next few years served in several actions, including those at Pondicherry and Manila. He was badly wounded during the capture of an American privateer in 1778, and was promoted to post rank by the Admiralty for his conduct in the battle. He saw action in the East Indies as Commander-in-Chief of a large convoy and remained in the post until 1804, assisting whilst there in the reduction of Trincomnee and Banda Neira, and guarding the British settlements and trade routes. He returned to England and in the Trafalgar promotion of 1805 became Admiral. He was Member of Parliament for Sandwich during his retirement. The spectacles Admiral Rainier is depicted wearing are very unusual, and were probably invented by Edward Scarlett (1627-1730), a London optician, whose design was improved by James Ayscough in 1752. Ayscough designed several other types of spectacles, which had lenses 3/4in. in diameter and including the frame were 1¾in. across. The Admiral's spectacles have 'Martin's Margins', which are rims of tortoiseshell or horn, designed to reduce the amount of light reaching the eyes.