William Barnard (1774-1849), After Lawrence Gahagan (fl.1756-1820)

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Description

inscribed on the lower left: Gahagon Model.^r and on the right: Barnard Sculp. inscribed below: To His Excellency the Marquis of Circello, / His SICILIAN MAJESTY'S Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary to his BRITANNIC MAJESTY, / This Portrait of ADMIRAL LORD NELSON, BARON NELSON of the NILE, and of / BURNHAM THORPE in the County of NORFOLK & K.B. / is by Permission Dedicated. / LONDON. Published as the Act directs 21 Oct. 1805 being the day for commemorating his LORDSHIP'S ever memorable and Glorious Victory over the French, &c. &c. &c.

Catalogue Note

By curious twist of fate, Barnard's mezzotint of Nelson was published in London on 21st October 1805 - the very day of Trafalgar - and long before news of victory had arrived in England.

Although identified as being by Lawrence Gahagan, the bust depicted here is in fact closer to the model by Robert Shout in the arrangement of Nelson's clothing and medals. Shout's bust, modelled in 1798, was reproduced in basalt by Wedgewood.

RELATED LITERATURE
Richard Walker, The Nelson Portraits, 1998, p.61, 64