The launching of a british warship - and a mystery
Gallery 3
European and American Art
John Cleveley, the elder (1722-1777)
Origin
Date/
Period
Materials
Meaning
England
c. 1771-1772
Oil on canvas
Documenting a historical event
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Read the full story below
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Is this painting the long-lost original titled "A View of the Launching of Grafton at Deptford When Their Majesties Were Present?" Originally painted by noted maritime artist John Cleveley (1722-1777) in 1772, the piece was shown once in 1776 and then disappeared. Now lost for 250 years, has the painting reappeared on the Waikoloa Museum Walkway? We'll give you the facts and share the Cleveley family's connection to the death of Captain James Cook here in Hawaii.
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"An East Indiaman in Three Positions," by John Cleveley (The Elder). This painting provides another important clue in our mystery. Cleveley was known for his technique of painting the same ship viewed from three different angles. In this case, he shows an armed merchant ship from the front, side/profile, and a partial view of the ship's stern and right side.
A painting of an important event - a connection to Hawaii, and a great mystery
Tap or click on an image for more information
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The launch of a Royal Navy warship was a major event at Deptford in 1771.
John Cleveley and Maritime or Marine Painting
The Cleveley family had a surprising connection to Captain James Cook and his death in Hawaii.
But is this ship really HMS Grafton? The mystery behind the painting.
THE STORY - and the Mystery
Chapter 1
This painting has been on display here at Hilton Waikoloa Village since 1989. It was acquired in Hong Kong by resort developer Christopher Hemmeter and his son Chris and brought to Hawaii with the other art and artifacts now on the Museum Walkway. Neither Hemmeter knew the story behind the painting, which is being told here for the first time. And that story has at least three mysteries inside it, as well as a surprising connection to one of the most significant historical events in Hawaiian history. Let's get Into the story behind the Museum Walkway's mystery painting, starting, as art detectives do, with who, what, when, why, and where..
First, what are we looking at? The scene is set at London's Royal Dockyard Deptford, on the banks of the River Thames. There are two ships visible in the painting (or maybe not). One is floating in the river, surrounded by small boats. The other is still on the shore, "on the stocks" and prepared for launching. Both ships are flying five large flags, and these are your first important clue.
Look at the picture in the upper right corner, which shows a remarkably similar scene, a large warship in the river and another on stocks, and flying the same five flags. Unlike our painting here, we know who painted this one, a shipwright named John Cleveley, Sr., we know where it was painted - at the dockyard at Deptford, where Cleveley worked, and the identities of the two ships, HMS ambridge, (left) and HMS Royal George, (right). Tap or click here for a better view of this scene.Those five flags on Cambridge show that she is about to be launched and brought into the Royal Navy on this day. Finally, we know that Cleveley painted this scene on a launching day. We also know when the HMS Grafton was launched - September 26, 1771, at around 3:10 in the afternoon.
Another clue rests in one of the smaller boats in the foreground. Rowed by a crew of eight, this is one of the Royal barges that transported King George III and Queen Charlotte on short trips along the River Thames. The king's visit to the launching of his latest warship was well documented in the London newspapers and painter John Cleveley highlighted the King and Queen's presence in the title of his painting.To read a newspaper account of the Grafton's launch, click or tap here. Newspaper account
First, what are we looking at? The scene is set at London's Royal Dockyard Deptford, on the banks of the River Thames. There are two ships visible in the painting (or maybe not). One is floating in the river, surrounded by small boats. The other is still on the shore, "on the stocks" and prepared for launching. Both ships are flying five large flags, and these are your first important clue.
Look at the picture in the upper right corner, which shows a remarkably similar scene, a large warship in the river and another on stocks, and flying the same five flags. Unlike our painting here, we know who painted this one, a shipwright named John Cleveley, Sr., we know where it was painted - at the dockyard at Deptford, where Cleveley worked, and the identities of the two ships, HMS ambridge, (left) and HMS Royal George, (right). Tap or click here for a better view of this scene.Those five flags on Cambridge show that she is about to be launched and brought into the Royal Navy on this day. Finally, we know that Cleveley painted this scene on a launching day. We also know when the HMS Grafton was launched - September 26, 1771, at around 3:10 in the afternoon.
Another clue rests in one of the smaller boats in the foreground. Rowed by a crew of eight, this is one of the Royal barges that transported King George III and Queen Charlotte on short trips along the River Thames. The king's visit to the launching of his latest warship was well documented in the London newspapers and painter John Cleveley highlighted the King and Queen's presence in the title of his painting.To read a newspaper account of the Grafton's launch, click or tap here. Newspaper account
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This unusual boat near the warship stands out. It appears to be the royal barge used by King George III to travel on the Thames. A very similar boat is seen in the painting of the Cambridge and Royal George.
Another view of the Royal Barge used by George III. It is currently preserved in Britain's National Maritime Museum.
ON YOUR MAP
This is Stop 16 on your Walkway Highlights Tour
Next Stop: Chinese trade paintings
Just a short walk ahead in Gallery 3
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