Painting showing Nelson and Lady Hamilton to go under the hammer

LONDON - The only known painting from life depicting Admiral Lord Nelson and his mistress, Lady Emma Hamilton, has surfaced after more than two decades and is up for grabs.

The watercolour masterpiece shows the pair sitting side by side in a barge on the fringes of the Mediterranean in 1800, five years before Nelson’s died at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Emma’s husband, Sir William Hamilton can be seen sitting to the right.

The picture is a part of a sketchbook containing 36 other watercolours painted by Ellis Cornelia Knight when she voyaged with the trio on board Nelson’s flagship, the Foudroyant, in the Mediterranean in 1800.

It has the caption, “River Anapus (sic) with the ruins of the temple of Olympiche Jupiter” and shows a rowing boat on the River Anapo (correct), with the ruins of the Temple of Zeus to their left and a bridge ahead.

Nelson is wearing a blue naval coat and a large tricorn hat. Emma is sitting to his left and Nelson is holding a parasol over her head with his left hand. Sir William is sitting to the right of the pair.

The sketchbook, completed in 1806, is believed to sell for 10, 000 - 15, 000pounds at a Bonhams manuscripts auction in London on March 23.

“This is a remarkable new discovery. We know of no comparable collection of views taken from one of Nelson’s ships during his lifetime. This particular sketch has claims to be the only glimpse of Nelson and Emma - plus Sir William - from life,” the Telegraph quoted historian Felix Pryor, who catalogued the lot, as saying.

Nelson, Emma and her husband lived together at Merton, near Wimbledon, south west London. Emma died an alcoholic in 1815. (ANI)