In celebration of this milestone anniversary and with the cooperation with a renowned Naval Historian, we have produced two unique portraits of the finest of all naval hero's, Lord Horatio Nelson.

Magnificent Abbot style Naval Portrait by Frank Fell

The inspirational Abbot was not painted from life but was commissioned in 1800 by John McArthur. The Abbot is regarded as an excellent, if not flattering, portrait of Nelson, and is described: "A half-length portrait depicting Horatio Nelson when a rear-admiral, facing forward with his head turned to the left, wearing rear-admiral's undress of 1795-1812 pattern". However, some of the now known historically correct features are either missing or incorrect and Fell has now reinterpreted the portrait and corrected many of these mistakes.

Unavoidably, even he has taken some artistic license in order to create an attractive composition, namely that Nelson's head wound meant that he could only wear his hat tipped back off his forehead and even Fell decided that the Admiral deserved a little help to look impressive.

Abbot's main discrepancy was his interpretation of the distinctive diamond Chelengk which was given to Nelson by the Sultan of The Ottoman Empire after the Battle of the Nile in 1798. In the Abbot, the Chelengk is shown as a simple six point hat decoration, as Abbot did not see the original, much more elaborate decoration: a diamond-encrusted jewel with a hidden clockwork mechanism that made its 13 sparkling fronds quiver, much to the amusement of Nelson's colleagues at the time.

It is believed that due to the embarrassment and jibes that Nelson endured from his fellow officers that he sent the Chelengk to be trimmed down and some of the diamonds were removed to make a broach for his beloved Emma. After Nelson's death it first went to his brother William, and having survived a burglary at his home, it was finally stolen from the National Maritime Museum in 1951 and never recovered. Forty years later a former cat-burglar was said to have admitted the theft and claimed he had broken it up to sell.

Luckily an early photograph exists and with the help of a reputed Nelson expert, Fell has recreated the original Chelengk as it would have appeared if Nelson had sat for the portrait himself.

This painting will be immediately recognised as an exceptional rare treasure by anyone who has an interest in Nelson or naval history and guaranteed to appeal to the naval art connoisseur.

The Beechey portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson, a fantastic framed oil painting by Frank Edward Fell.

To commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Lord Nelson, Ruby Cavaliers parent comapny, Kings Galleries commissioned a new interpretation of the Sir William Beechey portrait of 1800. We commissioned Frank Edward Fell to tighten up the composition and make adjustments that were historically incorrect in the original Beechey and we think he has done splendid job.

The painting is mounted upon a 3" conservation stretcher, comes in a splendid specially designed wood, gesso and gilt carved frame and the whole assembly is of the finest quality.

This painting is a fitting tribute to the greatest British navel hero of all time and would grace the collection, den or lounge of anyone who has an interest in Nelson or is looking for a fine nautical piece for the decoration of their home.

Historical Background

Admiral Nelson was born at Burnham Thorpe, in Norfolk, England. At the age of twelve he entered the Royal Navy as a midshipman and in 1773 accompanied Commodore Phipps on an expedition to the North Pole. In 1777 he was made a lieutenant; in 1779 he was again promoted to the rank of post captain. He later commanded the Boreas frigate and was employed to protect the trade of the Leeward Islands. With the declaration of war with the French Republic, he was made commander of the Agamemnon, a massive warship possessing sixty-four guns. The commander immediately sailed for the Mediterranean and joined Lord Hood at the siege of Bastia. Nelson was made rear admiral of the blue for gallantry and exemplary leadership at the battle of Cape St. Vincent (February 14, 1797) and was subsequently appointed to the command of the inner squadron at the blockade of Cadiz. His next appointment was the organisation of an attack on the town of Santa Cruz, in the Island of Tenerife. In 1798, Admiral Nelson joined Lord St. Vincent (Admiral Jervis) and received orders to proceed to the Mediterranean to evaluate the progress of the armament at Toulon. In 1801 he was deployed to Copenhagen under the command of Sir Hyde Parker and played a major role in the destruction of the Danish ships and batteries. When hostilities recommenced after the peace of Arniens, Lord Nelson was appointed to command the fleet in the Mediterranean and for nearly two years was engaged in the blockade of Toulon. In spite of his vigilance the French fleet got out of port (March 30, 1805), and being joined by a Spanish squadron from Cadiz, sailed to the West Indies. Nelson hastily pursued them, and they returned to Europe to take shelter at Cadiz.

On October 19, 1805 the French military, commanded by Villeneuve, and the Spaniards by Gravina sailed toward Britain from Cadiz. On the 21st of October they encountered a British squadron commanded by Admiral Nelson off Cape Trafalgar. An engagement took place in which the British Royal Navy claimed victory - but at a terrible price - the brilliant Admiral was wounded in the back by a musket ball and expired shortly after. His remains were carried to England and interred in St. Paul's Cathedral. Every year on October 21, England commemorates Trafalgar Day, this year 2005 is the 200th Anniversary.