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A three-quarter-length portrait to left in a blue coat, with gold clasps and a heavy gold embroidered sash. He wears a sword belt around his waist and a brown full-bottomed wig. He gestures with his right hand towards a ship in the left background, half out of the picture and flying the red ensign. The portrayal of this ship is curious since it appears to be of a type not built after 1665. When commanding the 'Chester', 50 guns, in 1707, Balchen was captured by the French commander Forbin. He became Governor of Greenwich Hospital in 1743 and in 1744 was recalled to sea to command a squadron to relieve Charles Hardy, who was blockaded in the Tagus. During the voyage home his fleet was scattered by a storm in the Channel and he went down with his flagship the 'Victory', 100 guns, which was lost with all hands.
Richardson was the principal portrait painter of the period between Kneller and Hudson. He founded the St Martin's Lane Academy with Kneller in 1711 and was influential through his books on the theories of painting.
Title
Admiral Sir John Balchen (1670–1744)
Date
c.1695
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 143.5 x W 120 cm
Accession number
BHC2525
Acquisition method
National Maritime Museum (Greenwich Hospital Collection)
Work type
Painting