Young Nelson (?)

Already famous for his many naval victories, when Admiral Horatio Nelson died in the process of defeating the French fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805 his status as a national hero redoubled. After years of war with France, Nelson's decisive victory raised national spirits. Scores of public monuments and portraits, some depicting his dramatic death, commemorated the fallen hero as a martyr for his country. George Dance's drawing, on the other hand, presents Nelson as a young boy. Portraits of the time often depict the imagined childhood of famous heroes, evoking the popular belief that their noble characters revealed themselves early in life. In this image, Dance suggests the future naval commander's steady vision and ability for leadership through the boy's intense, unwavering gaze.