MATTHEW H. KEYMER (1764-1816) AFTER LEONARDO GUZZARDI (ACTIV...

Hammer

£200,000

MATTHEW H. KEYMER (1764-1816) AFTER LEONARDO GUZZARDI (ACTIVE 1799)

Portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson, circa 1800

Oil on canvas

29 x 24in. (74 x 61cm.)

Literature: Walker, R., The Nelson Portraits, Royal Naval Museum Publications, 1998, p. 84-5

According to Richard Walkers' book, Guzzardi was probably a handy local artist commissioned by Nelson at some point in 1799 to produce a reciprocal gift to the Turkish Sultan in what would prove to be Guzzardi's main testimonial as little more is known of or by him. Several copies were made with Nelson and the Hamilton's securing the first of them before Sir William's full-length example began its long journey by land to the United Kingdom and it arrived at Yarmouth on 6th November, 1800. It was here that local artist, Matthew Keymer, was instructed to make a copy for a Lady Wright, the version comprising this lot. Keymer engraved this copy and published it that December with the lettering Painted by M.H. Keymer, Yarmouth, from a Portrait by a Celebrated Artist at Palermo.. As Walker notes, this painting features the Chelengk following Guzzardi's pattern but lacking the star of the Crescent and has only one Naval gold medal indicating that it was made from a very early version of Guzzardi's, probably intended for William Hamilton and which now hangs in the Admiralty Board Room, London.

Old reline. Needs cleaning. Three small areas of retouching. In carved gilt-wood frame.