~ Antique Framed Minnie Cormack Mezzotint “Lord Nelson” – (after John Hoppner) ~
A full-length portrait in a rear-admiral’s full dress uniform, 1795–1812, but with vice-admiral’s epaulettes. He wears the star and ribbon of the order of the Bath and the St Vincent and Nile medals.
Nelson’s empty right sleeve is pinned across his coat and he leans on a rock with his left hand on the right of the picture. In the background on the left, the battle of Copenhagen rages.
The original portrait by John Hoppner was bought for the Royal Collection after it hung in the Royal Academy in 1802. Although it was completed after the Battle of Copenhagen in April 1801, Hoppner probably began it between 8 November 1800 and 1 January 1801. However, he did not change the uniform to the correct rank of vice-admiral when he painted the background, since Nelson became a vice-admiral in January 1801, and the painting was not delivered to St James’s Palace until after Hoppner’s death in 1810.
This is a mezzotint by Minnie Cormack (1862 – 1919) which was published well after the similar 1806 mezzotint by Charles Turner that is held in the National Portrait Gallery archive, but it is subtly better in tone and form.
~ Dimensions ~
The printed area revealed by the mount’s aperture is 23 x 16 inches (58.5 x 40.7 cm)
The exterior measurement of the 2 inch frame is 37 x 28 and a half inches (94 x 72.5 cm)
~ Condition ~
The paper has yellowed a little with age and shows significant foxing (pictured).
There is also an inch long tear near the bottom of the printed area (also pictured).
The frame is in one piece and marries the vintage of the piece, but while the glass is unscratched, the wooden frame shows signs of knocks and general wear (pictured).
