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Description

This 1812 engraving of the Death of Nelson, published by Boydell & Company, is based on a painting by Arthur William Devis and engraved by William Bromley. The scene is an iconic representation of the death of Admiral Horatio Nelson, who succumbed to a mortal wound inflicted by a French sharpshooter while pacing the deck of HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805. The engraving, attractively colored and intricately detailed, captures Nelson in his final moments, surrounded by his closest colleagues and subordinates beneath the decks of his flagship.

The composition, derived from Devis's original 1807 painting now housed in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, is both somber and heroic. Nelson lies on a makeshift bed, his figure illuminated by lamplight, while officers and sailors tend to him with expressions of sorrow and respect. To the far left, an officer assists a seaman burdened with captured enemy flags, symbolizing the victory Nelson secured at the cost of his life. The scene conveys both the triumph of Trafalgar and the profound personal loss of Britain's greatest naval hero.

This engraving was conceived as part of a broader artistic project to memorialize great British military leaders. It was released in 1812 as a companion piece to John Singleton Copley’s famous Death of General Wolfe, and both were similarly sized for parallel display. Boydell & Company announced the engraving in The Times on August 15, 1812, offering it for the considerable sum of three pounds and three shillings. This price reflects the high artistic and cultural value attributed to the piece, which was engraved with meticulous attention to detail, preserving the emotional weight and historical significance of Devis's painting.

The engraving stands as a powerful testament to Nelson’s legacy and the enduring impact of his sacrifice at Trafalgar, a decisive victory that ensured British naval dominance for decades. It not only commemorates a pivotal moment in British history but also reflects the Romantic-era fascination with heroic death and national pride. 

Condition Description
Chine colle engraving mounted on early 19th-century paper. Minor foxing not affecting image, dampstain to right edge not affecting image, tape on verso from an old framing.