George Webster

Sale Christie's London, 16th October 1987, lot 78
purchased by Thomas Norman Westcott Esq.
Thence by descent

STRUCTURE The panel is sound with no sign of cracking. PAINT SURFACE There is craquelure throughout the paint surface and areas where the paint surface has seperated slightly. Otherwise clean and generally sound condition. ULTRAVIOLET UV light reveals an uneven varnish as well as a few scattered spots of retouching in the sky and infilling to craquelure to the boats, lower left and lower right. FRAME Held in a plaster gilt frame in fair condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Rear Admiral the Hon. Alexander Forester Inglis Cochrane (1758-1832) was the 5th son of Thomas Cochrane, 8th Earl of Dundonald.  He fought in the Napoleonic wars and became a Knight of the Bath in 1805.  

He is perhaps best known for his service in the American revolutionary war where has was Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station.  In September 1814 he commanded the bombardment of Fort McHenry from Chesapeake Bay during the Battle of Baltimore.  Francis Scott Keys, an amateur poet, had been part of a American delegation sent to secure the release of  a prisoner-of-war, Dr William Beanes.  Cochrane agreed to the release but insisted Keys and Beanes remain on a truce ship anchored in the Patapsco River; from this vantage point Keys witnessed the action which inspired the lyrics to what would become The Star Spangled Banner.  Cochrane went on to command the British Fleet defeated at the Battle of New Orleans the following year.  His reputation intact, Cochrane was promoted to Full Admiral in 1819 and was commander-in-chief of the entire British Fleet from 1821-1824.

HMS Northumberland was a third rate 74-gun ship laid down at Deptford and launched in February 1798.  She formed part of Vice Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth's victorious fleet at the Battle of San Domingo in February 1806, where she suffered the highest caualties of any British ship.  She is perhaps most famous for transporting Napoleon I to St Helena; Napoleon had surrendered to Captain Frederick Maitland of the Bellerophon but she was considered too aged a vessel prompting the Northumberland to make her famous voyage.