United Services: a visit to Greenwich by Chelsea Pensioners, by Andrew Morton.

United Services: a visit to Greenwich by Chelsea Pensioners.

Repro ID: BHC1159

Description: The picture represents the visit of Chelsea Pensioners to their friends at Greenwich and contains the portraits of distinguished veterans well known in both the Royal Hospitals. The Chelsea Pensioners are dressed in scarlet coats and the pensioners of Greenwich Hospital in blue. They are portrayed during a viewing of the paintings in the Painted Hall at Greenwich Hospital, where the resident naval pensioners entertained the soldiers. The principal group of sailors in the foreground consist of recognisable portraits, identifiable by an index on the frame. Nine of the Greenwich Pensioners had once served with Nelson. The group is standing in front of Gerorge Arnald's painting of 'The Battle of the Nile'. One Chelsea veteran has his hand to his ear as if listening for the guns. Behind, a portrait of Nelson on the rear wall indicates his presence as presiding spirit at Greenwich. A group of three young women and a child on the far left, sitting on a bench. The pensioners stand for witness and truth and the young women and children for the transmitters and receivers of knowledge.

Creator: Andrew Morton (1802-1845)

Date: 1845

Credit line: National Maritime Museum, London