I keep finding new images of or related to my great-(*3 or so) grandfather. Sometimes the image is identified as such, but not always. Here's an example: I was recently wasting some time browsing the Vinkhuijzen collection at the New York Public Library. Vinkhuijzen was a Dutch doctor (so how did the collection get to NY?) who loved uniforms and collected images wherever he could find them in a great variety of quality. Sometimes he colored or even emended them himself.So what are we to make of the image above? It is identified as a Dutch naval captain, 1782. Am I crazy to think the body looks like a spitting image of the portrait in my earlier post? He legs are clearly drawn later by someone not overly blessed with artistic talent, nor is the coloring very wonderful. I have only got one other reference to Dutch naval uniforms of the era (a photo of portrait of Oorthuys' collegue Melvill van Carnbee), which is broadly similar. There are definitely differences in detail though.
Oh well, the quest continues! (even though I haven't made any headway on modelling the ships as was the original idea)
That is so cool! I'm impressed that you have been able to confirm the captain as your ancestor. And you found his journal? Brilliant! Have you been able to find much else written about his exploits?
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI have been having tremendous fun researching my grandfather in WWII. Beyond his generation, there is not much available on my family—only names from the census.
Hi Andy,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIt wasn't hard to confirm him as my ancestor. It's a straight line and, more importantly, the family preserved lots of artifacts. As his victory was very rare during the war, it was blown out of all proportions propaganda-wise. That is why the journal survives, as do commemorative coins, pictures, and an honorary sabre. The odd thing about that one is, that the family has two, even though there definitely would only have been one originally. Very likely 'granddad' wanted to preserve the original for state-occasions and had another one made for daily usage. :-D