Admiral Lord Nelson,
This wax portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson (1758-1805) was modelled from the life. The likeness was much admired, and was later used as the basis for the portrait by Conrad Heinrich Kuchler in his design for the obverse of the Trafalgar medal, produced by Matthew Boulton. A contemporary wrote to Boulton in 1806, reporting a conversation with Lady Hamilton, Nelson's mistress, in which 'she shewed me the inclosed Wax Profile which She declares is the most striking likeness that has been taken, & much more so than our little drawing or print by Mr Da Costa. On asking Lady H: in what features the model so closely resembled Lord Nelson as she had declared; she said, in the direction & form of the nose, mouth and chin, that the general carriage of the body was exactly his, and that altogether the likeness was so great it was impossible for anybody who had known him to doubt about or mistake it.'
Catherine Andras (1775-1860) was born in Bristol, but moved to London to work. She exhibited in the capital from 1799 onwards, and in 1802 was appointed Modeller in Wax to Queen Charlotte. In the same year she was awarded 'The Larger Silver Pallet' by the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce for her model of Princess Charlotte and one of Lord Nelson. She was active until 1855.
If you require further information on this item you can contact us in a number of ways. Click here to see our contact information.
Id:1812 Q:0