Admiral Harry Paulet (1719/20–1794), Sixth Duke of Bolton 1760 - 1770

Francis Cotes captured Admiral Harry Paulet, Sixth Duke of Bolton, on canvas with oils, immortalizing him in his naval attire. The admiral's gaze directs us to the horizon, an invitation to contemplate the sea and its symbolic depth. His jacket, a vibrant blue trimmed with gold, speaks of maritime power and the treasures brought from distant shores. The color blue, historically linked to the Virgin Mary, reappears in royal contexts to signify authority. This association crosses epochs; consider the Mantle of Protection, where Mary extends her blue cloak, sheltering humanity. Here, the admiral’s confident stance is less about divine protection and more about earthly dominion. His gaze, and the ship mast he leans on, evoke a sense of exploration and control. It is an iteration of power, echoing through time. Consider how such symbols resonate within our collective memory; a memory triggered when we gaze upon this portrait today. It reminds us that the currents of history are ever-flowing, bearing cultural symbols that resurface in ways both familiar and transformed.