John Corbett, R.N. (1822-1893)

The City of Yeddo (Tokyo) from the anchorage; Temple Garden, Yeddo (Tokyo); The entrance to Nagasaki; and The village of Abba near Nagasaki

Details

John Corbett, R.N. (1822-1893)
The City of Yeddo (Tokyo) from the anchorage; Temple Garden, Yeddo (Tokyo); The entrance to Nagasaki; and The village of Abba near Nagasaki
the first inscribed 'General view of the city of Yeddo from the anchorage distant 5 miles. JC. Decr. 1860 / French corvette “Mange”, Fuziyamma. Fort. Junks at [anchorage] off the forts. Shoal water inside. Fort. Fort. Fort. City of Yeddo Japan.' and further signed and dated ‘JC. Decr 1860’; the second signed and inscribed ‘Garden of our Temple / in the Accabaui [?] at Yeddo / 30th Decr. 1860 /JCorbett’ (lower left); the third inscribed 'Entrance to Nagasaki Japan May 1861 / The Very dist land is Cape Grotto about 45 miles off / JC / No.4 from the left / This is where we were nearly wrecked in a fog / No.3 from the left / No.2 from the left / No.1 on the left /Entrance to the harbour of Nagasaki to be more finished some day’ on the reverse; and the fourth signed and inscribed 'The village of Abba 6 miles from Nagasaki / with the Nu-jung Yamma an extinct volcano in the distance / Decr. 1860 JCorbett’ on the reverse
pencil and watercolour on paper
6 ¾ x 39in. (17.1 x 99cm.) and smaller
(4)

Exhibited

London, Martyn Gregory, Paintings of the China Trade, 2009-2010, cat. 85, nos. 32-35.

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

Born in 1822, John Corbett entered the Royal Navy in 1835. In 1851, serving on HMS Penelope on the west coast of Africa, he took part in the storming of Lagos in 1851. Rising through the ranks he became a Commander in 1852 and Captain in 1857. In 1875 he was promoted to Rear-Admiral, and became naval ADC to Queen Victoria. From 1877-79 he was commander-in-chief on the East Indies station. In October 1884 he became Commander-in-chief at the Nore, with responsibility for protecting the North Sea and approaches to the port of London. In 1886 he became a full Admiral, and in 1886 a Knight Commander of the Bath; he retired the following year.

More from Travel, Science and Natural History

View All