Original Items: One-of-a-kind. It is amazing that this pair of paintings have remained together for 200 years having been sold by the family only in recent years. Although a pair in style and decoration one is slightly larger than the other. The two British naval officers were brothers who saw extensive service throughout the Napoleonic wars.
They were GEORGE ANTRAM and SIMON ANTRAM and their naval service is as follows:
GEORGE ANTRAM: Entered the Royal Navy in 1793 as a Midshipman on H.M.S. INFEXIBLE, then transferred to H.M.S. ENTERPRISE, H.M.S. VANGUARD, H.M.S. FOUDROYANT on which he was wounded at THE BATTLE OF THE NILE with Horatio Nelson in 1798. GEORGE ANTRAM was promoted to Lieutenant in 1802.
SIMON ANTRAM: Entered the Royal Navy in 1801 as a Midshipman on H.M.S. ST. GEORGE, fought at THE BATTLE OF CADIZ in 1810. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1811 and saw considerable service thereafter in the West Indies, and became Master of H.M.S. ENTERPRISE and commanded a gunboat during the Naval action against Flushing.
These matching water color paintings, measuring 11.5″ x 10.25″ and 11.00″ x 10.00″ circa 1815 retain their original gilded matching frames and their original glass. Slight losses to gilded frame decoration commensurate with their 200 years of age. Exceedingly rare to find such a pair still together and in such well preserved condition.