Captain Henry Osborn (1697-1771), 1743-44 (oil on canvas)

Creator: Claude Arnulphy A half-length portrait slightly to right in a blue coat edged with gold lace, and with a gold-laced mariner's cuffs and a red waistcoat, also laced, and a grey tie-wig. Osborn's right hand rests on a box compass, while his left hand lacks cuffs and appears unfinished as does the background of sea, which has no shipping. The portrait was probably painted on board his ship 'Princess Caroline', 80 guns, in Hyeres Bay, when the fleet was blockading Toulon. At the ensuing but indecisive Battle of Toulon in 1744, Osborn commanded the 'Princess Caroline' in the main division, and nobly supported Captain William Rowley. The fact that the fleet left after the action probably explains why Arnulphy was unable to finish this picture. Later he became an Admiral of the White.