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Admiral Sir Frederick Doveton Sturdee, 1859-1925 Artist Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope Date 1920 Repro ID BHC3042 Materials oil on canvas Measurements Painting: 362 x 633 mm Credit line National Maritime Museum, London. We regret that Museum enquiries have not been able to identify the copyright holder and would welcome any information that would help us update our records. Please contact the Picture Library. On display? No [Please call the E-Library to check on +44 (0)20 8312 6516] Buy this print

A half-length life sketch, with the sitter leaning on his right arm and looking to the left, his hands implied as clasped before him. Admiral Sturdee was the flag officer of the squadron sent to revenge the destruction of two British cruisers by Admiral von Spee off Coronel on the Chilean coast. His force succeeded in sinking the 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau' off the Falkland Islands on 8 December 1914. This was a preparatory sketch from life for the painting of a group of officers, 'Naval Officers of World War I', 1921, at the National Portrait Gallery (NPG1913) by Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope. It is inscribed on the front, 'Admiral Sir F D Sturdee, Study for Naval War Group'. The other officers in the finished portrait include Sir Robert Keith Arbuthnot, fourth Bt; Sir Horace Hood; Sir John Michael De Roebeck, Bt; Roger Keyes, first Baron Keyes; Sir Cecil Burney, first Bt; David Beatty, first Earl Beatty; Sir Trevylyan Napier and Louis Alexander.

The son of Charles West Cope RA, the artist was a prolific portrait painter with a successful society practice. From 1874 he attended the Royal Academy School and exhibited there throughout his career. He became an Academician in 1910, was knighted in 1917 and appointed KCVO in 1927. He also ran his own art school in South Kensington. See also BHC2537.

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• BHC2537

Biography of Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope

Other paintings by Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope

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