Georgian Naval Oil Portrait Of Captain Sir Gamaliel Nightingale

A refined Georgian naval portrait, oil on canvas, circa 1760 — attributed to John Simmons the Younger (Nailsea 1715–1780). This half-length depiction of Captain Sir Gamaliel Nightingale, 9th Baronet (1731–1791), combines authoritative presence, period decorative appeal and secure auction provenance, making it a compelling choice for decorative projects, country-house interiors and gallery display.
Subject & Medium
Title: Portrait of Captain Sir Gamaliel Nightingale, attributed to John Simmons the Younger.
Medium: Oil on canvas.
The sitter is portrayed in his thirties wearing formal Royal Navy dress: a deep navy coat with white linen facings and gilt detail. The confident brushwork, measured palette and tonal modelling place the work within the mid-18th-century British portrait tradition.

Composition & Technique
Colour and form are organised around a limited, harmonious palette of navy, white and gilt, which centres attention on the sitter’s face and insignia. The flesh is modelled with subtle gradation while the uniform and metallic highlights receive more decisive brushwork. A restrained, atmospheric background provides spatial depth without distracting from the sitter’s presence. These technical features align with documented works attributed to John Simmons the Younger.

About the Artist — John Simmons the Younger
John Simmons (Nailsea, 1715–1780) was a provincial portrait painter active in the West Country (Somerset/Bristol). His work appears in sale catalogues and auction records for portraits of gentry and professional sitters. Simmons frequently left commissions unsigned; attribution therefore rests on stylistic comparison, market provenance and catalogue references. His portraits are noted for dignified restraint, careful costume rendering and accurate characterisation.

About the Sitter — Captain Sir Gamaliel Nightingale (1731–1791)
Born 15 February 1731 at Kneesworth Hall, Cambridgeshire, Nightingale served in the Royal Navy over a 35-year career. Trained at the Royal Naval Academy (from 1744), his service included postings on HMS Rippon, HMS Porcupine and senior lieutenant roles aboard HMS Prince George and HMS Dublin. He held independent commands — HMS Badger, HMS Vengeance and HMS Flora — and on 13 March 1761, Vengeance captured the 44-gun French privateer Entreprenant near Land’s End. He was placed on half-pay in 1779.

Strategic & Historical Context
Nightingale’s career exemplifies the tactical role of frigate command in the mid-18th century: independent patrol, convoy protection, anti-privateer operations and reconnaissance linked to larger fleet actions. His service and named baronetcy add documentary interest for maritime and military collectors.
Exploration Legacy — Nightingale Island
While on South Atlantic service in 1760, Nightingale charted or observed a volcanic isle in the Tristan da Cunha group subsequently named Nightingale Island. The island’s later ecological significance enhances the sitter’s historical footprint.

Lineage, Heraldry & Estate
Nightingale baronetcy of Newport Pond (created 1 September 1628). Coat of arms: Per pale ermine and gules, a rose counterchanged. Crest: an ibex sejant argent armed and maned or. Family seat: Kneesworth Hall, Cambridgeshire — long-associated with Nightingale landholdings and regional influence.

Provenance & Archival Documentation
Public sale: Bonhams, London — Old Master & British Paintings, February 2024 (Lot 9); catalogued as from a private European collection since at least c.1990. Bonhams lot label present on the verso. Archival linkage: Cambridgeshire County Archives (Chesterton Terrier, 1768) references land transactions involving Captain Nightingale in 1772. Scans of catalogue entry and archival excerpts are available on request.

Frame
Presented in a substantial late-Georgian giltwood frame with acanthus leaf relief and egg-and-dart inner moulding. The frame’s scale and finish suit formal placement over mantels, in stair halls or as part of a period portrait grouping.
Dimensions
Canvas: approx. 76.7 cm (H) × 63.6 cm (W)
Framed: approx. 92.75 cm (H) × 79.0 cm (W) × 5.5 cm (D)

Condition Summary
Stable canvas with even historic craquelure; well-preserved colour, particularly in the uniform passages. Minor sympathetic historic retouching; no evidence of significant modern overpainting. Frame shows expected surface wear with small areas of gilt loss but remains structurally sound. Full written condition report, raking and UV photography available for serious buyers.
Why this work suits decorative projects
Strong visual focal point for grand interiors and mantel displays.
Colour palette integrates with warm woods, leathers and brass finishes.
Period frame provides immediate decorative presence and architectural scale.
Named sitter and documented provenance add narrative interest for collectors and clients.

Shipping & Purchase
Worldwide insured shipping available. Conservator-grade packing provided. Export assistance and documentation available for institutional buyers. High-resolution image pack, Bonhams catalogue extract and condition report supplied to serious enquiries.
Call to action
For purchase enquiries, installation advice or to request the high-resolution dossier and condition report, please contact Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

Georgian portrait, naval portrait, decorative art, John Simmons the Younger, Captain Sir Gamaliel Nightingale, giltwood frame, Bonhams provenance, 18th-century oil painting, mantelpiece art, heritage interiors