The Ever to be Lament’d Death of Lord Nelson, 1805, Mezzotint, Framed

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An evocative early 19th-century British commemorative mezzotint entitled The Ever to be Lament’d Death of Lord Nelson, depicting the fatal … Read more An evocative early 19th-century British commemorative mezzotint entitled The Ever to be Lament’d Death of Lord Nelson, depicting the fatal wounding of Admiral Horatio Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The dramatic composition portrays the mortally wounded Nelson being supported by fellow officers aboard HMS Victory, while the naval battle continues beyond. Hand-applied colour enhances the theatrical character of the scene, with the figures illuminated against the darker surroundings of the ship and the smoke-filled battle beyond. Nelson's death at Trafalgar on 21 October 1805, at the moment of one of Britain's most celebrated naval victories, prompted an extraordinary outpouring of commemorative art. Prints such as this were produced for domestic display, simultaneously serving as memorials to Nelson and expressions of British patriotic sentiment during the Georgian and Regency periods. The work survives beneath its original glass and within an early wooden frame, giving the piece considerable period character. Natural surface wear, fading and patination accumulated over approximately two centuries further contribute to its historic appearance. A fascinating piece of British naval, Napoleonic and Nelson memorabilia, particularly appealing to collectors of early prints, maritime history and Regency-period commemorative art. Subject The Death of Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar Medium / Material Hand-coloured mezzotint on paper, glass and wooden frame Measurements Height: approx. 11.5" Period Early 19th Century, circa 1805–1830 See less