Sir Francis Drake

Object Details

Artist

Robert Vaughan, c. 1600 - before 1664

Publisher

Unidentified Artist

Sitter

Sir Francis Drake, 1542/3 - 1595

Exhibition Label

Born Tavistock, England

This portrait celebrates Sir Francis Drake’s epic achievement in sailing from South America to England by a Pacific route in 1577–1580, making him the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. Ten years earlier, Drake had participated in the earliest British slaving voyages, transporting hundreds of captured Africans to the Americas. A notorious pirate and privateer, he committed ruthless acts of plunder against Spanish treasure ships and colonial outposts, destroying the settlement at St. Augustine (present-day Florida) in 1586. En route back to England, Drake stopped on Roanoke Island off the Carolina coast to rescue desperate colonists fleeing the failed English colony.

Nacido en Tavistock, Inglaterra

Este retrato conmemora la épica gesta de sir Francis Drake, quien navegó desde América del Sur hasta Inglaterra por vía del Pacífico en 1577–1580, siendo el primer inglés que circunnavegó el planeta. Diez años antes, Drake participó en los primeros viajes del comercio inglés de esclavos, transportando cientos de africanos cautivos hacia las Américas. Famoso pirata y corsario, saqueó despiadadamente barcos y territorios coloniales españoles. En 1586 destruyó el asentamiento de San Agustín (actual Florida). En el camino de regreso a Inglaterra, Drake se detuvo en la isla de Roanoke, en la costa de Carolina, para rescatar a unos colonos desesperados que huían de la fallida colonia.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

1620-23

Object number

NPG.77.43.86

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Print

Medium

Engraving on paper

Dimensions

Image: 16.9 × 12.9 cm (6 5/8 × 5 1/16")

Sheet: 27.9 × 16.8 cm (11 × 6 5/8")

Book closed: 28.8 × 18.2 cm (11 5/16 × 7 3/16")

Book open: 37.5 × 18.2 cm (14 3/4 × 7 3/16")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Location

Currently not on view

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache

Print

Symbols & Motifs\Heraldic motif\Coat of arms

Home Furnishings\Globe

Costume\Dress Accessory\Sash

Equipment\Navigational instruments

Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Goatee

Costume\Armor\Gorget

Equipment\Drafting & Writing Implements\Compass

Weapon\Club\Baton

Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Collar

Sir Francis Drake: Male

Sir Francis Drake: Science and Technology\Explorer

Sir Francis Drake: Science and Technology\Navigator\Ship

Sir Francis Drake: Military and Intelligence\Navy\Officer\Vice Admiral

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.77.43.86

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm47e97a52b-1316-4b5d-aa3b-7bf7740e10f0