Richard Bowyer 1758-1834

Probably Admiral Sir James Saumarez, later Lord de Saumarez (1757-1836);
Thence by family descent at Shrublands Park, Suffolk

The Monthly Magazine, January 1806;
Richard Walker, The Nelson Portraits, 1998, p.254, no.176 (as whereabouts unknown)

ENGRAVED:
By William Bromley, published 21st October 1809;
By Charles Turner, published 1st February 1823

It is fitting that this portrait, long known of through contemporary reference and subsequent engravings, has come to light this year.  It has emerged in the de Saumarez collection at Shrublands Park in Suffolk, and it is likely that it was originally owned by Nelson's fellow officer, Admiral Sir James Saumarez, later Lord de Saumarez.

The first mention of this portrait appeared in the Monthly Magazine for January 1806, which suggests that the artist made the drawing shortly after the Battle of Trafalgar the previous October.  He based the pose of the head on the miniature he had painted in 1800 (Walker no.175) which was acquired by the Prince Regent and remains in the Royal Collection.  The drawing, which is almost four times the size of the miniature, shows him wearing full dress uniform and with a full complement of his most esteemed decorations.  Bowyer clearly intended it for publication, and indeed it was published as a line engraving by William Bromley on the anniversary of Trafalgar, 21st October 1809.  It was later engraved again in mezzotint by Charles Turner for the frontispiece to Captain Brenton's Naval History of Great Britain, Vol.II, in 1823.

This fine chalk drawing is the first amongst a group of portraits made immediately after Lord Nelson's death.  It was followed by that by A.W. Devis (Walker no.197) now at the National Maritime Museum with versions elsewhere; the wax and wood effigy by Andrea at Westminster Abbey; and busts and medals by Flaxman, Tassie. Webb and Wyon.  For a full discussion on these see Richard Walker, The Nelson Portraits, 1998, Chapter 8 'After Trafalgar'.