Overall: 53cm (20.7in) x 40cm (15.7in)
Engraving. ‘Perspective view of the Funeral Car / which carried the body of the much lamented / Lord Nelson From the Admiralty to St. Pauls in great procession on the 9th January, 1806’.
Designed and engraved by N. Heideloff, published January 14th 1806, for the proprietor, at R. Ackermann’s Repository of Arts, No. 101, Strand. Contained in period Hogarth style frame.
Inscribed - ’The Coffin, stripped of its velvet Pall and placed on this funeral Car, is supported upon a Platform covered with black cloth and festooned with Velvet richly fringed, decorated with three Escutcheons on each side, between which were inscribed the WORDS of SAN JOSEF and L’ORIENT, on A Crown of Laurels and Palm, and on the opposite Side the Words of TRINIDAD AND BUCENTAUR; the centre Festoon has the Word TRAFALGAR in Gold and the side ones ornamented with Palm Branches; the Festoons on both Sides are ornamented alike. The Body of the Car is an Imitation of the Hull of the Victory, its Head toward the Horses, is ornamented with the Figure Fames, the Stern carved and painted in the Naval Stile, with the Word VICTORY under the Lanthorn [lantern], the Coffin placed on the Quarter Deck, with its Head towards the Stern [rear of a vessel], Pall at the Head of the Coffin and the English Jack pendant over the Poop. The Canopy is formed from a Sarcophagus, supported by four Palm Trees, covered with black Velvet and richly fringed.’
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On the Cornice in Front is inscribed Nile; on the right side the Motto Hoste Devicto Requievit [The enemy having been defeated, he rested] behind the word TRAFALGAR; and on the other side the Motto: Palman Qui Meruit Ferat [He who has earned the palm, let him bear it, i.e.achievement should be rewarded] and terminates at the Top with a Viscounts Coronet.
So moves the Corpse upon the trophied Bier
Mourn’d by his King! embalm’d with England’s Tear!
To that fam’d Church that lifts its tow’ring Head—
The future Mansion of the Patriot dead!
The Hero’s Manes there in Peace shall rest,
While his loved Image lives in ev’ry breast.
Vide NELSON’S TOMB, a Poem, by W.T. Fitzgerald, ESQ