Horatio Nelson Portrait, Trafalgar Engraving, Naval Hero, 1819 London
€ 295
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1819
Mapmaker / artist
Published by John Wilkes, after Lemuel Francis Abbott, London, 1819
Technique
Copperplate engraving
Sheet size
15.3 × 11.2 cm (6.0 × 4.4 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14283-8
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Good, with age-related toning, light foxing, and minor creasing to the margins. Plate mark visible, as expected. Overall strong impression with clear engraving detail.
About this sheet
Horatio Nelson Portrait, Trafalgar Engraving, Naval Hero, 1819 London
This striking engraved portrait depicts Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758–1805), one of Britain’s most celebrated naval commanders and a defining figure of the Napoleonic Wars. Published in London in 1819 for the Encyclopaedia Londinensis (Vol. XVI, edited by John Wilkes), the print reflects the early 19th-century fascination with heroic figures and national history, rendered through refined copperplate engraving.
The composition presents Nelson in an elegant oval portrait format, wearing his naval uniform with epaulettes and sash, emphasizing his rank and decorated status. Below the portrait appears a symbolic vignette featuring the Union Jack with the inscription “TRAFALGAR,” referencing his most famous victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, where he secured British naval supremacy but was fatally wounded. This combination of portrait and emblem reinforces both his personal identity and his enduring national legacy.
The engraving is based on a well-known painted likeness by Lemuel Francis Abbott, whose portraits of Nelson helped define the admiral’s visual identity. The engraver translates this painted source into a finely structured composition using delicate stippling and line engraving techniques, achieving a soft tonal quality in the face while maintaining clarity in the uniform and insignia. The dense engraved background contrasts with the lighter figure, creating a strong sense of depth and focus.
Nelson’s historical significance is profound. His innovative tactics, bold leadership, and decisive victories against French and Spanish fleets established him as a national hero. Despite severe injuries sustained in earlier battles—losing sight in one eye and most of one arm—he remained an inspirational leader until his death at Trafalgar. Prints such as this were widely circulated in the years following his death, serving both commemorative and educational purposes.
A highly decorative and historically meaningful engraving, ideal for maritime collections, British historical themes, or sophisticated interior settings. The strong graphic composition and iconic subject make it particularly effective as a standalone statement piece.
Framing tips: Best presented in a dark walnut or ebonized frame with a wide ivory mat to enhance contrast and complement the classical oval format.
This example is an original early 19th-century engraving, published in London in 1819. It is not a modern reproduction. Any images showing the print framed are for visual inspiration only. The print is supplied unframed.
