The largest and perhaps most unique item in the exhibition is
the death mask of Emperor Napoleon (kindly loaned by Montrose
Museum), the ruler of the French Empire during this tumultuous
period. The mask shows a scar on the left side of his face. His
eyes are closed, lips slightly parted, and his shaven head is
tilted backward. It is a hollow-cast plaster copy of the original
death mask and was authenticated in 2007 by Dr Robert Prescott of
St Andrews University.
A handwritten letter from Admiral Lord Nelson (1758 - 1805),
hero of the Battle of Trafalgar, and without doubt Britain's most
prominent naval figure is also included in this exhibition, and
contains a correspondence between him and Sir Pulteney Malcolm
(1768 - 1838) one of the Four Knights of Eskdale. Sir Pulteney
Malcolm was a noted naval officer, and like his three brothers was
raised from relatively humble beginnings. With curious irony he
missed the battles of both Waterloo and Trafalgar, but went on to
become a key figure in the life of Napoleon, whom he guarded during
his final days on St Helena.
He is represented in the exhibition along with his brothers in a
series of contemporary prints, but also in a fine miniature
watercolour painted by celebrated artist George Engleheart
(1750-1829), who went on to paint King George III over 25 times.
This miniature was purchased with help from The Art Fund and is a
wonderful addition to the Museum's collections.
www.artfund.org