Interment of the Remains of the late Lord Viscount Nelson in the Cathedral of St. Paul, London, on the 9th of January, 1806.

This engraving derived from a watercolour is one of four works in the collection which were drawn by Auguste Pugin to record the funeral of Nelson. This particular image shows the interior of St Pau’s Cathedral with the black marble sarcophagus in the centre dwarfed by its surroundings. The sarcophagus was made for Cardinal Wolsey by Benedetto da Rovezzano in 1524-9. A large chandelier hanging from the ceiling is also illustrated which is an interesting record of the fact that this was the first time St Paul’s Cathedral had been artificially lit. Flags from the enemy ships which were captured at the Battle of Trafalgar are also depicted hanging around the walls. Nelson was buried in the crypt of St Paul’s after the service.

Pugin’s training as an architectural draughtsman is exemplified here in the careful delineation of the nave and the transept of St Paul’s.