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Lord Nelson officer Captain Hardy painting sold for 4,000 pounds

The painting of a warship in Nelson's navy is the only known work by Captain Hardy and was created in about 1801. As an officer, Hardy was trained by the Royal Navy to be a competent artist so he could draw enemy ships and coastlines of foreign countries.

The drawings and paintings were not signed and were meant to be used for strategic purposes and not as works of art. Hardy gave it to Reverend Dr Alexander Scott, who was Nelson's private secretary and who rubbed the naval hero's chest on his deathbed.

The 10" by 12" painting has been handed down from generation to generation through Dr Scott's family and has never before been on public display.

A private collector paid £3,850 for it after it was put up for sale at an auction. Hardy used water colour paint and pencil on paper for the painting of the unidentified 40 gun ship shortly before he joined HMS Victory...
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)