Pick of the week

One of the stars of the Chelsea Art & Antiques Fair (March 23–27) is a painting of the death of Nelson by Mather Brown (1761–1831), who was born in Boston and on moving to England was taught by his fellow American Benjamin West. The 40in by 49in painting showing the hero falling into the arms of his officers is a recent rediscovery by the dealer Martyn Downer, expert in all things Nelsonian. Mr Downer notes that Brown was one of the few artists who actually knew Nelson, so his likenesses are to be trusted. He used crowded battle scenes such as this to drum up portrait commissions from survivors.

Brown was named after a maternal ancestor, The Revd Increase Mather. Perhaps his parents should have chosen the other part of the name, as, after a period of prosperity as a royal portraitist, the painter’s career faded away, perhaps because of his inability to move on from his old master’s style. This work will be priced at £350,000. Another maritime item is a nautilus shell carved in about 1858 with a scene of the launch of the 25,000ton paddle-steamer Leviathan, better known as the Great Eastern. She was designed by Brunel, who was famously photographed against her launching chains, and, in 1866, the ship laid the first Transatlantic telegraph cable. The shell is with Jacksons Antique at £1,100.