An Old Tar doing penance for his devotion to jolly Bacchus, by Henry Pidding.

An Old Tar doing penance for his devotion to jolly Bacchus. © National Maritime Museum, London

Repro ID: Bhc1816

Description: This painting shows a 'canary' at Greenwich Hospital a pensioner wearing the yellow coat as punishment for drunkenness. The standing figure on the right is a Hospital Boatswain. Designed by Wren in the 1690s, the Royal Hospital for Seamen housed Royal Naval pensioners from 1705 to 1869. It is now home to the Greenwich Foundation for the Royal Naval College, the University of Greenwich and Trinity College of Music.

Creator: Henry James Pidding

Date: 1844