Captain Horatio Nelson

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Nelson's most famous victory was at the Battle of Trafalgar where he defeated the combined Spanish and French fleet that ended Napoleon's last hopes of invading Britain. Nelson's d eath during the battle helped cement his iconic status in Britain. A native of Turin, Rigaud trained in Italy and came from Rome to London with James Barry in 1771. Begun in 1777, when Nelson was a lieutenant, but not finished until 1781 or possibly slightly later (since it shows uniform to which Nelson would only have become entitled after three years seniority as a captain in June 1782), the portrait is one of a group of three painted for William Locker of officers who had served under him, the other two being Captain Pole and Captain Peacock. Artist: John Francis Rigaud Date: 1781 Show more