Homage to Nelson

Burney, Edward Francis (1760-1848)

Item type:

drawing

Date of creation:

early to mid-19th century

Technique / Medium:

watercolor and pen and black ink on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper

Description

This gently colored, highly symbolic drawing shows a five female figures surrounding a bust of Lord Nelson that is mounted on the bow of a beached boat. One figure, flying above the scene, plays a long trumpet and gestures to two others (one wearing a Minerva-like helmet, the other holding a long branch) who are adorning the hero's image with a wreath and a long serpentine rope. The two remaining figures are bending in grief while holding their trumpets, which have symbolic banners attached. A representation of a centaur blowing a horn can be seen on the hull of the boat.

People as subjects

Nelson, Horatio (1758-1805) (Non-musician/dancer)

Iconclass

43A433
crowning with laurel
59B32
Fame; 'Fama', 'Fama buona', 'Fama chiara' (Ripa)
44A31
banner, standard (as symbol of the state, etc.)
92L7
centaurs
43A43
triumphs (allegorical and symbolic)
43A432
symbolic triumphs of individual persons
46C2237
ships, boats on land, beached

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

End-blown trumpet [6556] (one being played; the two others, with attached banners, only partially visible)

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 1

RIdIM record id

6348