Anthony Ten Broeke (1735–1812)

Samuel Drummond's portrait of Anthony Ten Broeke captures a figure from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, though the exact year of this painting isn't known. Drummond, a British painter born in 1766, was particularly prolific in portraiture and marine genre painting. He began his artistic journey after several years at sea and a brief stint as a clerk, entering the Royal Academy Schools in 1791. Within a few years, he was exhibiting hundreds of works at the Royal Academy, becoming an associate in 1808. His sitters included notable figures like Walter Scott and Elizabeth Fry, as well as various naval officers. This painting likely showcases Drummond's characteristic approach to portraiture, which earned him commissions for publications like The European Magazine. While he also painted large-scale historical maritime scenes later in his career, his foundation was firmly in capturing individual likenesses. This work, part of the Museum of Freemasonry's collection, suggests Ten Broeke may have been connected to the Masonic order, a common subject for portraits of the era.