David Morier's first notable painting was an equestrian portrait of King George II, with a view of the Battle of Dettingen beyond. The painting was later engraved by Simon François Ravenet and published by the artist.[1]
Early yearsedit
Little is known of David Morier's early life. Even his exact year of birth is unknown. Born in Bern, Morier initially trained as a miniaturist and portrait painter. Later, he gained prominence for his vivid and detailed depictions of military scenes. Therefore, Morier was predominantly considered a soldiers painter, influenced by the equestrian portraits of Jan Wyck, who, like Morier, made a career in England as a painter of sports and military scenes.[2][3][4][5]
An English career under royal patronageedit
In 1743, David Morier was introduced to Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, by Sir Everard Fawkener, in Germany, where the Duke of Cumberland was on campaign. In the same year, Morier arrived in England, and obtained the patronage of the Duke of Cumberland, who was the effective commander-in-chief of the British Army in the 1750s. From 1752 until 1764 Morier was employed as limner (painter) to the Duke of Cumberland on an annual salary of GBP100. However, his name also appears regularly in royal accounts from 1764 to 1767.[6][5][7][1][8]
Kings, dukes, earls, a smuggler – and the Godolphin Arabianedit
David Morier produced a number of equestrian portraits of his patron, the Duke of Cumberland, and other members of the Royal Family, including King George II and King George III. Some of these portraits were later engraved, such as the equestrian portraits of King George II and King George III by Simon François Ravenet and Peter Mazell respectively. Furthermore, some of the equestrian portraits of the Duke of Cumberland were engraved by John Faber the Younger and Louis-Simon Lempereur.[6][9][10][11][12][13][14]
He also portrayed John Pixley (birth unknown – in or after 1749), a smuggler and custom-house officer. John Pixley's portrait was later engraved by John Faber the Younger.[15][16]
David Morier also produced several small paintings for King George III for 10 guineas apiece. Furthermore, in the 1760s, Morier was commissioned by Henry Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, to paint several paintings, including eight paintings of the 15th light dragoons.[1]
The painting shows the Godolphin Arabian, standing in profile, in a grassy yard enclosed by a high brick wall, with a stable to the right, the door open, and the stable cat, named Grimalkin, sitting on the ground looking at the horse. David Morier's portrait of the Godolphin Arabian is the only painting of this famous horse painted from life. The painting is on display at Houghton Hall.[17][18]
Soldier portraitsedit
David Morier is well known for his soldier portraits, where he placed great emphasis on accurately depicting the details of their uniforms, as well as he did in his equestrian portraits with the horse tack. In 1747, Morier accompanied the Duke of Cumberland to the Low Countries, where he painted portraits of soldiers of the Royal Artillery and a series of sixty paintings of the allied troops under the duke's command. Today, these paintings are all in the Royal Collection.[6][20][1]
The British uniform regulations of 1751edit
In 1751, the first British uniform regulations were issued by royal warrant and David Morier, commissioned by the Duke of Cumberland, began another series of portraits of soldiers, including the light dragoon regiments raised in 1759 and 1760. It was these soldier portraits, in particular the so-called Grenadier Paintings, for which David Morier became famous.[6][20][1]
The Grenadier Paintingsedit
The Grenadier Paintings are large panels, depicting the uniforms and the equipment of each of the – at that time – 49 regiments of marching infantry, plus the three regiments of the Guards infantry. On each panel three grenadier privates of three different regiments are portrayed, in numerical order and in a variety of poses, from formal drill to route march order. Once again, David Morier's care and attention to detail have provided a very valuable record of the British Armed Forces material culture in this period.[21][1]
A visual record for the Duke of Cumberlandedit
When David Morier had finished the Grenadier Paintings, the Duke of Cumberland had a visual record of every regular British regiment that had ever come under his command. When the duke died in 1765, his second residence, Cranbourne Lodge, housed 106 of Morier's soldier portraits, including paintings of the allied troops that were once under the duke's command. The duke's appreciation for Morier's work went so far, that only paintings by David Morier hung in his picture gallery.[20][22][1][21]
In 1757, the Duke of Cumberland's military career was ended by his disgrace following his defeat at the Battle of Hastenbeck and his subsequent signing of the Convention of Klosterzeven. After the duke lost his position, also David Morier's career went into decline. Morier appears to have lost his patronage either then, or at the duke's death in 1765. He was jailed for debt in the Fleet prison in 1769 and died there in January the next year. His colleagues of the Society of Artists paid to have him buried at St. James's Church, Clerkenwell on 8 January 1770.[6][5][27]
Exhibitionsedit
A founder member of the Society of Artists, David Morier exhibited at its first exhibition in 1760, and again in 1762, 1765, and 1768, sending equestrian portraits, and in the last year a painting titled An Old Horse and the Farmer.[6][5][1]
Legacyedit
David Morier's legacy endures through his influence on the portrayal of military history in art. His contributions to military art are significant, as his works provide invaluable visual evidence of 18th-century warfare. His attention to detail and careful depiction of military uniforms and equipment have made his paintings important historical documents.[3]
Aside from his military works, Morier also painted landscapes and portraits. His works are held in various collections, including the Royal Collection and the National Army Museum.[3]
Gallery I: The Grenadier Paintings – 49 regiments of marching infantry + the three regiments of the Guards infantryedit
Grenadiers, 1st and 3rd Regiments of Foot Guards and Coldstream Guards
Grenadiers, 1st Royal, 2nd Queen's and 3rd Regiments of Foot
Grenadiers, 4th King's Own, 5th and 6th Regiments of Foot
Grenadiers, 7th Royal Fusiliers, 8th King's and 9th Regiments of Foot
Grenadiers, 10th, 11th and 12th Regiments of Foot
Grenadiers, 13th, 14th and 15th Regiments of Foot
Grenadiers, 16th and 17th Regiments of Foot, and Grenadier and Drummer, 18th Royal Irish Regiment of Foot
Grenadiers, 19th and 20th Regiments of Foot, and 21st Royal North British Fusiliers
Grenadiers, 22nd and 24th Regiments of Foot, and 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers
Grenadiers, 25th and 26th Regiments of Foot and 27th Inniskilling Regiment of Foot
Grenadiers, 28th, 29th and 30th Regiments of Foot
Grenadiers, 31st, 32nd and 33rd Regimants of Foot
Grenadiers, 34th, 35th and 36th Regiments of Foot
Grenadiers, 37th, 38h and 39th Regiments of Foot
Grenadiers, 40th Regiment of Foot, and Privates, 41st Invalids Regiment and 42nd Highland Regiment
Selected paintings by David Morier on Militaria Helvetica
External linksedit
Selected paintings by David Morier on Art UK
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghChristie's: H.R.H. William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, full length, on horseback, wearing frock uniform of the First Guards with the ribbon and star of the Garter, holding a baton, a view of the Battle of Culloden beyond – by David Morier, Auction 18 March 2005, New York, Property from the Estate of Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, lot 130. Estimate: USD20,000 – USD30,000. Lot essay with biographical details about the live and work of both: Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, and David Morier
^ Rosebery's Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers, London: An equestrian portrait of an officer of the first troop of horse Grenadier Guards on a bay charger with a trooper on the right – by David Morier, Auction 4 June 2020, lot 156, lot essay
^ abcChristie's:Portrait of a gentleman in red military uniform – by David Morier, Auction 21 November 1980, London, lot 97, lot essay
^Sikart: David Morier, Lexicon on art in Switzerland. Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
^ abcdeA Dictionary of Artists of the English School: David Morier, with notices of their lives and work, by Samuel Redgrave. New Edition revised to the present date. George Bell & Sons, York Street, London, Covent Garden, 1878, p. 296
^ abcdefDictionary of National Biography: David Morier, Morehead–Miles, edited by Sidney Lee, Macmillan & Co., New-York – Smith, Elder & Co. London, Vol. XXXIX, 1894, p. 49
^Royal Collection Trust: David Morier, biography. Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
^Ryan R. Gale: A Soldier-Like Way – The Material Culture of the British Infantry 1751–1768, Track of the Wolf, Inc., USA, 2007, p. 2
^A Dictionary of Artists of the English School: David Morier, with notices of their lives and work by Samuel Redgrave. New Edition revised to the present date. George Bell & Sons, York Street, London, Covent Garden, 1878, p. 349
^National Portrait Gallery, London: King George II, line engraving by Simon François Ravenet, after David Morier, 1743 or after, (NPG D10762). Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
^National Portrait Gallery, London: King George II, line engraving by Simon François Ravenet, after and published by David Morier, December 1757, (NPG D47457). Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
^National Portrait Gallery, London: King George III, with John Ligonier, 1st Earl Ligonier, line engraving by Peter Mazell, after David Morier, 1769, (NPG D33166). Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
^National Portrait Gallery, London: William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, Engraving (mezzotint) by John Faber Jr, after David Morier, 1753, (NPG D7941). Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
^Victoria & Albert Museum, London: Portrait of His Royal Highness William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, Engraving by Louis-Simon Lempereur after David Morier. Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
^The British Museum – Catalogue of engraved British portraits preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum: John Pixley painted by David Morier in 1749, engraved (mezzotinto) by J. Faber jun., by Freeman O'Donoghue F.S.A., volume III (L–R), printed by order of the Trustees, London, 1908, p. 477
^National Portrait Gallery, London: John Pixley – smuggler and customs officer, Engraving (mezzotint) by John Faber Jr, after David Morier, 1749, (NPG D40256). Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
^The British Museum – Print: The portraiture of the Bay-Arabian, the property of the Right Honourable, the Earl of Godolphin, The British Museum number: 2010,7081.5278. Mezzotint (1753) by John Faber the Younger after David Morier. Description: Portrait of the Godolphin Arabian horse, standing in profile to right, in a grassy yard enclosed by a high brick wall, with a stable to right, the door open, and a cat sitting on the ground looking at the horse, after David Morier. The painting, which is the only painting of the Godolphin Arabian done from life, is at Houghton Hall, Norfolk
^National Trust Collections: The Godolphin Barb or The Godolphin Arabian (c. 1724 – 1753) with Grimalkin the stable cat (after George Stubbs after David Morier), Collection, Godolphin, Cornwall, NT 169581.3
^Ryan R. Gale: A Soldier-Like Way – The Material Culture of the British Infantry 1751–1768, Track of the Wolf, Inc., USA, 2007, p. 78
^ abcRoyal Collection Trust: David Morier – The Grenadier Paintings, 114 Pictures of Military Costume (1ft 4in x 1ft 8in), recorded in the Upper Library at Buckingham Palace in 1819. Commissioned by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
^ abRyan R. Gale: A Soldier-Like Way – The Material Culture of the British Infantry 1751-1768, Track of the Wolf Inc., USA, 2007, pp. 3, 27, 34, 41, 46, 50, 57, 63, 69, 71, 72, 75, 79, 86, 93, 103, 120, 124,
^Royal Collection Trust: David Morier – Private (Cavalry), 114 Pictures of Military Costume (1ft 4in x 1ft 8in), recorded in the Upper Library at Buckingham Palace in 1819. Probably commissioned by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
^Murray Pittock: Great Battles – Culloden, description and historical classification of the painting An Incident in the Rebellion of 1745 by David Morier, Oxford University Press, 2016, pp. 121, 125, 133
^Ryan R. Gale: A Soldier-Like Way – The Material Culture of the British Infantry 1751–1768, Track of the Wolf, Inc., USA, 2007, pp. 1 and 104
^Royal Collection Trust: David Morier – An Incident in the Rebellion of 1745, commissioned by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (RCIN 401243). Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
^Christie's: Equestrian portrait of Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn (1745-1790), by David Morier (1705-1770), Auction 7680 – Important and Fine old Master Paintings, 19 May 1993, New York, Park Avenue. Estimate: USD50'000 – USD70'000
^Royal Academy of Arts, London: Bill of the funeral expenses of David Morier, 8 January 1770, Archive. Website retrieved on 5 April 2024
Ryan R. Gale: A Soldier-Like Way – The Material Culture of the British Infantry 1751-1768, Track of the Wolf, 2007 (includes the complete series of the Grenadier Paintings by David Morier)
Murray Pittock: Great Battles – Culloden, Oxford University Press, 2016
A Dictionary of Artists of the English School: David Morier, with notices of their lives and work, by Samuel Redgrave. New Edition revised to the present date. George Bell & Sons, York Street, London, Covent Garden, 1878, p. 296
Dictionary of National Biography: David Morier, Morehead–Miles, edited by Sidney Lee, Macmillan & Co., New-York – Smith, Elder & Co. London, Vol. XXXIX, 1894, p. 49
The British Museum – Catalogue of engraved British portraits preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum: John Pixley painted by David Morier in 1749, engraved (mezzotinto) by J. Faber jun., by Freeman O’Donoghue F.S.A., volume III (L–R), printed by order of the Trustees, London, volume 3, 1908, p. 477