The Old Print Shop

William Pitt Canning, Captain of His Majesty's Ship Alligator.

  • ARTIST:

  • PUBLISHER: Published by C. Hullmandel

  • MEDIUM: Lithograph,

    DATE: c. 1828

  • EDITION SIZE: Image size 9 1/2 x 11 7/8" ( 24.3 x 30.2 cm)

  • DESCRIPTION: Little is known of this lithograph, which was produced as a memorial to Captain William Pitt Canning, the son of British Prime Minister George Canning. The artwork features a left-facing bust of Canning, symbolizing his naval career and untimely death. Below his portrait, an alligator represents HMS Alligator, the ship he commanded, along with a sarcophagus and a skull and crossbones, traditional symbols of mortality. <br><br> Produced by the esteemed British lithographer Charles Joseph Hullmandel, this piece showcases early 19th-century lithographic techniques, including Hullmandel’s mastery of tonal gradations and soft washes. No other examples of this print have been found online, suggesting it may be a rare production, likely created in limited quantities for private circulation among Canning's family and close associates.

  • ADDITIONAL INFO: This piece is in a 10.25 x 12.5 inch archival mylar and backed with archival quality mat board for safe handling.

  • CONDITION: Fair condition. Scattered foxing and missing the top left corner. Skillfully repaired tear which runs 2 inches into the image from the left side.

  • REFERENCE:

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