The Collection
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| Artist | Robert Smirke (1753-1845) |
| Title | Resuscitation by Dr. Hawes of Man Believed Drowned |
| Date | c.1787 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | height: 102.00 cm, width: 127.00 cm |
| Acquisition | Purchased from Colnaghi's, July 1977 |
| Location | UK, London, Government Art Collection |
| GAC number | 13339 |
Other works by this artist
 | King George III Reviewing the Volunteer Corps in H... | Watercolour over etched outline 1799 GAC 10674 |
 | Young Man Lifted from a River, Apparently Drowned | Oil on canvas c.1787 GAC 13338 |
 | The Cession of the District of Matavai in the Isla... | Stipple engraving published 1 January 1803 GAC 1565 |
 | Victors of the Nile | Engraving published 1803 GAC 1712 |
 | Commemoration of Victory of 1 June 1794 ["The Glor... | Engraving published 1804 GAC 1713 |
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This work is the second of a series of two paintings, the first of which shows a 'Young Man Being Lifted From A River, Apparently Drowned'. In this image, 'His Subsequent Resuscitation by Dr William Hawes', the same man is shown after his recovery, sitting up in bed with his jubilant family around him and Dr William Hawes M.D. (1736-1808) by his side. Dr Hawes was known for his ability to resuscitate people who had apparently died from drowning and other causes of asphyxia. In 1774, Hawes and London surgeon Dr Thomas Cogan (1736-1818) agreed to bring 15 friends each to the Chapter Coffee House in London to form a society especially for the purpose of resuscitating the drowned. At the meeting The Humane Society was formed and Hawes became the Society’s Registrar. The inaugural meeting was held on 17 April 1774.
The date these paintings were commissioned from the artist Robert Smirke by The Humane Society is not known. They were presented to Benjamin Hawes, the son of Dr William Hawes, by the Society in 1787, the year it became The Royal Humane Society. The paintings were also engraved that year by Robert Pollard (1755-1838). Benjamin Hawes was chairman of The Royal Humane Society from 1820 to 1860.
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This work contains the following subjects; choose a subject below to cross-refer to other works in the collection:
Similar works by subject:
genre
 | Sacred Conversation between St.Felix de Valois and... | Oil on canvas GAC 0/45 |
 | The Valley of Mexico | Oil on canvas 1837 GAC 0/55 |
 | Brazilian Scene: A Sugar Mill | Oil on panel c.1665 GAC 0/61 |
 | Brazilian Scene | Oil on canvas c.1665 GAC 0/62 |
 | River Landscape | Oil on canvas GAC 0/63 |
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This work contains the following Sitters; choose a link below to cross-refer to other works in the collection:
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Robert Smirke was born in Wigton, Carlisle. He was brought to London by his father in 1766 and apprenticed to a coach painter named Bromley. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1772 and exhibited at the Academy from 1786 to 1800, in 1805 and in 1815. He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1791 and a full Royal Academician two years later. Smirke specialised in unusually small scale scenes from literary or theatrical subjects, and his works are often humorous. His radical and revolutionary opinions led George III to bar his appointment as Keeper of the Royal Academy in 1804. The artist died at the age of 92 at his home in Osnaburgh Terrace, near Regent's Park, London.