The Death of Nelson – A painting in the Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament

Following my post on tuesday about the painting depicting the two allied commanders meeting after the Battle of Waterloo, I decided I may as well post on the painting that sits directly opposite it in the Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament.

It shows the Battle of Trafalgar and the dying Admiral Nelson on the deck of HMS Victory, cradled in the arms of Captain Hardy, with other figures, including Dr Beatty, leaning over him. They are surrounded by members of the crew. Daniel Maclise took trouble over the accuracy of details in the picture; he interviewed survivors of the battle and researched the naval equipment in use at the time.However the painting is not an accurate account of the event, because Nelson was quickly taken below decks, where he died at the end of the massive battle. 

Included in the painting are women and two black people; this is likely to be historically accurate as two men from Africa were included in the crew of HMS Victory. 

At the time of the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Navy was the biggest employer of black people in the world. Though at this time people of African descent were integrated with other members of the crew, they tended to work in the lower ranks however they were equal to white men in the Royal Navy. 

If you look closely at the centrepiece you can see one of the black sailors pointing up, at the French sniper who shot Nelson. He is not hidden in anyway but playing a pivotal part in the painting in the very heart of Victorian Parliament.

To the left of him you can see the officer who is about to shoot the man who shot Nelson (as an old man he actually met the painter to ensure it was correct) but if you are wondering where the Frnechman is, you can’t see him at all. This is because it was decided it wouldn’t do to give this person a central role in the painting so as with many other French figures in this painting, he was obscured by clouds of smoke.

Combined with the aftermath of the Waterloo painting, they both make a stunning statement of both victories over Napoleon but also the terrible nature of war.

These days the Royal Gallery is sometimes used to host foreign leaders as they address parliamentarians. If they dignitary is French, the lights are dimmed as a courtesy so as not to cause too much of a diplomatic incident!