NAM.1974-02-167-1

Funeral of the Duke of Wellington. The funeral car passing the archway at Apsley House, Novr 18th 1852. Colour lithograph by T Picken after Louis Haghe (1806-1885). Published by R Ackermann and Son, 30 Apr 1853. The death of Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) on 14 September 1852 marked the passing of an era. The victor of Waterloo and vanquisher of Napoleon, Wellington was perhaps Britain’s greatest ever soldier, but as commander-in-chief of the Army in his old age, his belief that past methods were the best had acted as a brake on progress. Although his death provided the opportunity for military reform, the outbreak of the Crimean War (1854-1856) just over a year later meant that the time available for any reforms to take effect would be limited. The procession of Wellington’s funeral cortège to St Paul's Cathedral was watched by a million and a half people. The artist has depicted the funeral car - which weighed eighteen tons and was of a design inspired by Prince Albert - passing the Duke’s London residence, Apsley House, Hyde Park Corner.

State Funeral of the Duke of Wellington, 1852 (Ceremonial Events 1800-1899)