This is a key to West's ' The Death of Lord Nelson'. West did the painting (now in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool) in 1806 as his side of an agreement with James Heath to publish it as a large print. Heath completed the print in 1811, when it was shown at the Royal Academy, as was West's painting to help promote sales. This simpler etching was presumably done by Heath or his workshop at the same time, as a key to the people included in the 'Epic Composition' , which shows Nelson dying on the upper deck of 'Victory' rather than in her lower-deck cockpit, as was in fact the case. This key is mounted with a copy of the main Heath print (PAH8031).