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This half-length portrait shows Nelson in rear-admiral's undress uniform, 1795–1812 pattern, wearing the Saint Vincent medal and the star of a KB. The empty right sleeve is pinned across, and the upper part slit and closed with ribbons, to accommodate the wound dressing from Nelson's loss of his right arm at Santa Cruz in July 1797. This is the second of many replica portraits of Nelson made by Abbott, all based on the only oil study of him that the artist made from life. That was done after July 1797, while Nelson was painfully recovering from the loss of his right arm, and staying with his old commander Captain William Locker, by this time Lieutenant-Governor of the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich. Nelson gave Abbot two sittings there and the resulting oil study, known as the 'Kilgraston sketch' from its later ownership by Francis Grant of Kilgraston, is now in the British portraits collection at Compton Verney, Warwickshire.
The date of Nelson's KB, 27th September 1797, and his departure for the Mediterranean in April 1798, suggest the span within which this version was painted, while he was Rear-Admiral of the Blue and before the Battle of the Nile – which brought further decorations and promotion to Rear-Admiral of the Red in February 1799. His rank at the time of painting is confirmed by the flags of the ship in the lower left corner. The fact that it is the third version (excluding the original study) suggests a 1798 date and it was published as a mezzotint, engraved by Richard Earlom, in December that year. The inscription on this print records that Nelson had already presented the oil to his agent, Alexander Davison, whose grandson, Sir Walter Davison, bequeathed it to Greenwich Hospital in 1873.
Title
Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758–1805), 1st Viscount Nelson
Date
1798
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 76.2 x W 63.5 cm
Accession number
BHC2887
Acquisition method
National Maritime Museum (Greenwich Hospital Collection)
Work type
Painting
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London, Greater London SE10 9NF England
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