Chance find in the attic connected to a national hero
TONY HENDERSON on a picture that is a reminder of a rather shabby episode in our naval history
A FIND in the attic of a Northumberland home is a reminder of an incident that paints national hero Lord Nelson in a less than flattering light, claims auctioneer Jim Railton.
Mr Railton insists that his research shows that the old oil painting is of Vice Admiral Sir Edward James Foote, who was involved in a controversy over the execution of rebels, including women, in Naples in 1799.
“The painting has come from an old and well-known Northumberland family who were clearing out an attic, and who assumed it was some unknown distant relative,” said Mr Railton, whose auction business is based in Wooler.
“It was a real surprise to find a bit of history with a Lord Nelson connection. I am positive it is Vice Admiral Foote.”
A hand written label on the back of the portrait carries Foote’s name and says that it was painted in Bombay.
Foote travelled the world during a long career on many different warships.
One of his ships was the frigate HMS Seahorse, which was one of the vessels sent to reinforce the fleet under Nelson, which defeated the French in the Battle of the Nile on August 1-3, 1798, off the Nile delta in Egypt.
HMS Seahorse had already captured the French frigate Sensible in an action on June 27.
After the battle of the Nile, Seahorse was attached to the blockade of Alexandria before transferring to Naples early in 1799. A French invasion of the Kingdom of Naples had overthrown the Neapolitan government and installed a republic.
In June 1799, the rebels surrendered and Foote, as the senior British officer present, signed a treaty promising that the rebels could have free passage to France if they handed over the city and its forts without a fight.
But once the rebels had embarked ships ready for transport, Nelson arrived and overturned the treaty. The rebels were handed over to the King of Naples and mass executions followed.
Nelson was strongly criticised in Britain for his action and for breaking Foote’s word.
“The incident shows national hero Lord Nelson in a rather different light,” said Mr Railton.
“People often buy old paintings like this for the frame, or as “instant ancestors to hang on the wall, but we did research on the sitter, and it turns out to be quite important.”
The painting will be sold on February 16 with an estimate of £200-£300.