Description:

Attributed to William Gush (British, 1813-1888), "George Vance (1769-1837)", oil on canvas, unsigned, "Humphrey Brothers, Stanley Street Depositories, Southsea" label with sitter, "Curtiss & Sons, LTD." label inscribed with sitter, handwritten label inscribed with sitter and "Curtiss Storage", "British Antiques Exporters, LTD., Sussex" label and partial label on stretcher, 36 in. x 28 1/4 in., framed. Note: Born in Ireland in 1769, George Vance began his medical career as a surgeon in the Royal Navy, most notably as the Surgeon’s Mate on the ‘Victory’ with Captain Nelson, Later Admiral Lord, (1758-1805) after whom Vance named his youngest son Horatio. Vance saw extensive service throughout the Mediterranean, spending approximately ten years below decks in the cramped confines of the orlop deck, the most common areas for surgeons to work and was with Admiral Samuel Hood (1724-1816), Commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet, when he was involved in the occupation of Toulon. Vance secured a shore appointment in 1804 when he became a surgeon at the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar at Gosport in Hampshire. In 1822, Vance moved to Greenwich Hospital in London while also developing a successful private practice in the southern counties of England. In 1825, he became ‘Surgeon Extraordinary’ to Frederick, the Duke of York and Albany, second in line to the English throne and established himself at 27 Sackville Street, Piccadilly as a prominent physician. Vance was tragically killed in 1837 when he was violently attacked by one of his patients and thrown over a balcony to his death. The work offered here was most likely commissioned by the Vance family from William Gush and descended in the Vance/Scovell families of Portsmouth, London, and Brighton. The work was later copied as a mezzotint by Thomas Goff Lupton and published by Paul and Dominic Colnaghi & Co., London in 1838. An example of the print can be found in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, London.

  • Condition: If Condition is NOT stated in the description of the lot, the absence of a condition report does not indicate the lot is free of damage or condition issues. Available Condition Reports will appear as an additional image. Condition Reports and photographs may be requested on items until the Wednesday prior to the auction. Bid accordingly. All sales are final, no returns are accepted on the basis of condition.

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September 7, 2023 1:00 PM CDT
New Orleans, LA, US

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $5,000
$50,000 + $10,000