Photo 1/1 du lot
Premium OSENAT

334 - French school of the 19th century.
See original version (French)

Estimate €4,000 - €6,000
Sale commission
Description
French school of the 19th century. Portrait of Admiral of France HAMELIN, Minister of the Navy, wearing his decorations, including the collar of the Order of the Bath and the Order of the Saviour of Greece. Large oil on canvas Large gilded frame decorated with foliage. Surmounted by a coat of arms with crossed marshal's batons, a sword and a naval anchor. Without frame: 1.45 x 1.15 With frame: 1,70 x 1,50 A.B.E. circa 1857-1860. Provenance : -Admiral Hamelin then descent. -Private collection Historical background: Hamelin was awarded the Order of the Bath by Queen Victoria on 7 May 1857. Biography: Ferdinand Hamelin Ferdinand Hamelin (1796-1864) Aspirant 2nd class in 1808, he took part in the Indian Ocean campaign and the battle of Grand Port (August 1810), a naval victory for the Empire that features on the Arc de Triomphe. Taken prisoner, he returned to France in 1812 where he served in the Escaut division. Aspirant 1st class in 1812, then ensign the same year, he embarked on the Eylau in the Brest squadron. In 1814 he was taken prisoner for a second time on the Terpsichore following his battle with the Majestic. Once freed, he campaigned in Bourbon, Madagascar, Brazil and the West Indies. A lieutenant in 1821, he was on the Colosse during the bombardment of Cadiz in the Spanish Civil War (Chev de St Louis). He then took part in the Morée campaign with the gabarre la lampoie (July 1826-Oct 1828) where he distinguished himself in the fight against Greek piracy. Commander in 1828, he commanded the brig Actéon during the capture of Algiers. From September 1832 to March 1835, he commanded the corvette la Favorite in Brazil and the South Seas, where his crew was decimated by yellow fever. Captain (1836), he was promoted to rear admiral in 1842 after commanding the Triton and the vessel Océan as flag bearer for Admiral Hugon in the Mediterranean. He was commander-in-chief of the Pacific Ocean Naval Station (1844-1848). Vice-admiral in 1848, member of the Admiralty Council, he was appointed maritime prefect of Toulon in 1849 and organised the dispatch of troops for the second expedition to Rome. In 1853, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean squadron, which in 1854 became the Black Sea Naval Army. As part of the war against Russia, he maintained the blockade of the Black Sea and protected the transport of supplies to the Army of the East. He led the bombardment of Odessa (April 1854), the landing at Old Fort and the attack on the forts at Sebastopol (October 1854), where he miraculously escaped death following the explosion on the poop deck of the Ville de Paris, where his staff was decimated. Admiral of France in 1854, he entered the Senate. He was appointed Minister of the Navy in 1855. In this position, he initiated the naval renovation programme desired by the Emperor: suspension of the construction of wooden ships, start of work on the Gloire, the first battleship, etc. He was replaced in 1860 and appointed Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour, the first sailor to be appointed to this honour.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale The Empire at Fontainebleau - Second day
Auction location
Auction time 06/21/2026 at 10:30 AM
Lot description modified on 06/10/2026 at 10:10 AM
Pictures credits:
Michel Bury and Henri du Cray
See original version (French)
You may also like