John Cleveley the Elder

Private Collection, U.K.
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 1 April 1998, lot 97 (titled the Peregrine);
There acquired by Bernadette and William M.B. Berger, Denver, Colorado.

Denver, The Denver Art Museum, 600 Years of British Painting, The Berger Collection at The Denver Art Museum, 10 October 1998 - 28 March 1999 (titled the Peregrine).

600 Years of British Painting, The Berger Collection at The Denver Art Museum, Denver 1998, p. 202, reproduced p. 203 (titled the Peregrine).

The canvas has a relining which is firm and stable. The paint surface is under a yellowed and uneven old varnish. The ships and rigging ready very well and details are well preserved. There are some scattered areas of thinness in the water and some areas of reworking in the sky, mostly noticeable to naked eye in the clouds at upper left. Examination under UV light reveals retouchings scattered throughout the sky, some to address old small tears at the right side. The ships and water look good and have only a few small scattered retouches. There is retouching around the extreme edges. The painting could be hung as is, but would benefit from sensitive restoration to re-address some of the old restorations that are visible to naked eye. In a carved and gilt wood framed.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The Royal Charlotte, here shown from two viewpoints, was built at the Royal Dockyard, Deptford, in 1749 as the Royal Caroline. She replaced an earlier yacht of that name but was renamed in 1761, just before she was sent to Cuxhaven to collect Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz to marry George III.  This painting obliquely commemorates that event since, on the left, the yacht is shown flying the Union flag at the main, signifying the presence on board of Lord Anson, as Admiral of the Fleet, who commanded the accompanying naval escort and himself made the outward voyage from Harwich in Royal Charlotte, leaving on 7 August. On the right the yacht is shown with the flags she wore when returning with the future queen. As an eyewitness put it: "the moment she came on board [24 August] …the royal standard was hoisted on the maintopmast-head; the anchor of hope, or admiralty flag, at the foretopmast head; and the union on the mizentopmast-head; and made the finest sight I ever saw" (Scottish Magazine, vol. 23, Sept. 1761, p. 490 ff.).  For the return – a notably stormy passage to Harwich - Anson shifted his flag (again Union at the main) to the accompanying 60-gun Nottingham. The 50-gun Winchester and four other yachts formed the rest of the convoy. We are grateful to Dr Pieter van der Merwe, General Editor at the National Maritime Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich, for correctly identifying the vessel and for his assistance in cataloguing this lot.