Nelson Memorial Pendants (Horatio Nelson -- Part 2)

Pendant 1: Lord Nelson Commemorative Pendant -- a commemorative allegorical pendant circa 1805, celebrating Nelson's victory while mourning his death at the Battle of Trafalgar. It depicts in watercolor the winged figure of Victory sounding her trumpet above warships, with cannons blazing, and unfurling a scroll inscribed, "Nelson Victory." The pendant is further inscribed: "He Conquered when he Fell." The pendant measures 1 and 3/4 inches by one inch. For similar Nelson commemorative pendants, see the National Maritime Museum collection.
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Pendant 2: Nelson Defeats Villeneuve -- A rare allegorical pendant, circa 1805, celebrating Nelson's victory over Admiral de Villeneuve at the Battle of Trafalgar. The pendant is painted in watercolor and set within a gilt metal suspension locket, measuring 1 and 3/4 inches by one inch. There is braided hair in the back panel.

It depicts the Admiral kneeling before Neptune with border inscribed: "Monsieur Invoking Neptune to give up his Trident to Nelson", symbolizing Nelson's dominance of the sea.

The splendidly named Pierre-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silverstre de Villeneuve was a French naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars and in command of the French and Spanish fleets defeated by Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Historians have not been kind to Villeneuve. His decision to leave Cadiz is often cited as the cause of the Battle of Trafalgar. He saw defeat by Nelson as inevitable, yet went out to engage in battle in a fit of pique and vanity upon learning that another French officer had been sent to take his place. Following defeat, Villeneuve was captured by the British, but later permitted to return to France. He was found dead with seven knife wounds in Rennes in 1806. A verdict of suicide was recorded. This verdict was widely mocked by the British press and rumors abounded that Napoleon had secretly ordered his murder.