The Death of Nelson

This woven piece of silk shows the ‘Death of Nelson, after a painting by Daniel Maclise, which in itself was a study for a wall painting for the Royal Gallery in the Palace of Westminster (House of Lords). The work shows the dying Admiral Nelson on the deck of HMS Victory, held by Captain Hardy with other figures leaning over him.

This wide ribbon was known as a ‘Stevengraph’ after its developer and main manufacturer Thomas Stevens, who was based in Coventry, a centre of the ribbon weaving industry. In the 1860s, Stevens adapted Jacquard looms to produce pictures of silk, which were used as bookmarks or made into greeting cards and other objects. Like this example, Stevengraphs were often mounted on cardboard.