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The Apotheosis of Nelson
(18th and 19th Centuries )
Admiral Nelson, the British naval hero of the Napoleonic wars, was fatally wounded at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805). In this allegorical scene, Mars, the helmeted god of war, welcomes him onto Mount Olympus, the home of the ancient gods. Nelson's ascent is assisted by Poseidon, god of the seas, and Fame, depicted as a woman with wings, among others. Below, on the ship's deck, Britannia, the female personification of Great Britain, bids farewell to her greatest naval hero. At her feet are one of the Fates and grief-stricken members of the crew. This is a preparatory study for a painting exhibited in Bern (Switzerland) in 1818. It is one of the few surviving works by Legrand, whose career bridged the transition between the Neoclassical and Romantic styles.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1909 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
| 2011 | Setting Sail: Drawings of the Sea from WAM. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 12/30/1946 | Treatment | coated; varnish removed or reduced |
| 4/21/1964 | Examination | examined for condition |
| 11/8/1991 | Treatment | coated; inpainted; surface cleaned |
| 6/25/1992 | Treatment | examined for loan; other |
| 6/25/1992 | Examination | examined for loan |
| 11/30/1994 | Examination | examined for condition |
| 7/27/2011 | Examination | examined for condition |
Geographies
France (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 22 1/16 x W: 17 3/8 in. (56.1 x 44.2 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1909
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
37.205