Who painted Portrait of a Naval Officer, Known as Augustus Keppel?

Portrait of a Naval Officer, Known as Augustus Keppel was painted by John Wollaston.

Where can I see Portrait of a Naval Officer, Known as Augustus Keppel?

Portrait of a Naval Officer, Known as Augustus Keppel is held by Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

What movement is Portrait of a Naval Officer, Known as Augustus Keppel?

Portrait of a Naval Officer, Known as Augustus Keppel is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of a Naval Officer, Known as Augustus Keppel?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of a Naval Officer, Known as Augustus Keppel are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of a Naval Officer, Known as Augustus Keppel

John Wollaston

Portrait of a Naval Officer, Known as Augustus Keppel is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist John Wollaston. It is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

About this work

Overview

John Wollaston the Younger, an English portraitist active between 1742 and 1775, produced this oil on canvas in the Rococo manner. The work portrays a naval officer, identified as Augustus Keppel, and is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is shown in a dark blue coat trimmed with silver, a uniform typical of mid‑18th‑century Royal Navy officers. He stands before a ship, reinforcing his maritime role, and holds a long, dark object in his right hand and a sword in his left, symbols of command and martial authority.

Technique & Style

Wollaston employs the Rococo’s lightness of touch and elegant detailing, while chiaroscuro modeling gives the figure a three‑dimensional presence against the darker background. The palette of deep blues and muted metallics highlights the uniform’s texture and the ship’s silhouette.

History & Provenance

Created during Wollaston’s North American period, the portrait later entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in transatlantic portraiture and the diffusion of English Rococo aesthetics to the colonies.

Context

Wollaston’s career is noted for introducing English Rococo portrait conventions to British North America, blending fashionable French influences with local tastes. This painting exemplifies his approach, combining refined surface treatment with a clear depiction of the sitter’s professional identity.

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

Artist

John Wollaston

John Wollaston (fl. 1742 – 1775) was an English painter who specialised in portrait painting and was active mostly in British North America. He was one of a handful of painters to introduce English Rococo styles of…