Memorial to Admiral Sir Clowdisley Shovell 1725

Memorial to Admiral Sir Clowdisley Shovell is an oil on canvas painting made by Sebastiano Ricci in the early 18th century. Here we see a theatrical, almost dreamlike vision of an ancient setting, populated by figures in both classical and contemporary dress. Shovell was a celebrated admiral, but his death was mired in controversy and class tension. Shipwrecked off the Isles of Scilly, he washed ashore, only to be murdered for his emerald ring by a local woman. Ricci's memorial, however, is less about the grim realities of Shovell’s demise and more about constructing a heroic narrative. The Admiral is surrounded by allegorical figures, a lion, and Roman ruins, all pointing to an association between British naval power and the grandeur of antiquity. Shovell’s story, even in death, becomes a vehicle for national pride and perhaps, a deliberate overlooking of the uncomfortable truths of his final moments. The painting invites us to consider the complex relationship between public image, personal tragedy, and the narratives a society chooses to uphold.