This item comprises two images with these received identifications. (Recto) An oval miniature in watercolour on ivory in an oval brown mount, set in a broad plain rectangular black-lacquered wooden frame of which the image window is also rectangular, with a moulded edge and fragments of gilding. It has a suspension ring and hanger in the form of an acorn and oak leaves, formerly gilded, top centre. The sitter is a fairly young man with full brown hair and brown eyes, shown bust-length turned to his right but looking to the viewer. He has a fringe of neat brown beard all round under the jaw from ear to ear, but is otherwise fresh-faced and clean-shaven. He wears a blue jacket with blue buttons, a high turn-down collar and slightly puffed shoulders, a cream waistcoat with grey edging and turn-down lapels and (possibly) brass buttons, and a black or blue neckcloth knotted under a loose turn-down white shirt collar. The background is a strong blue with brown hatched shading to the right. An engraved brass plaque on the frame below reads 'Boatswain William Willmett RN / HMS VICTORY. / Severely wounded at Trafalgar, Oct 21st 1805. / Remained on duty throughout the action.' (Verso) An oval miniature in watercolour on ivory, not properly mounted but simply stuck on the paper backing of the frame. It shows a woman, bust-length and turned to her right, with brown hair dressed in curls, probably brownish eyes, and in a low-cut light-brown/ beige waisted gown with a darker brown pattern and puff sleeves. She also wears a coral necklace, probably coral earrings, and has a white shawl looped over her bare shoulders. The gown has a red 'jewel' of some sort in the centre of the decolletage and the background is a neutral grey. Across the bust of the figure an ink inscription reads, 'Mrs Willmett', apparently in a mid-19th century hand contemporary with the image or not much later.

This is one of a number of items with very suspect credentials from the Malcolm Stewart Collection of Nelsoniana. Though the man represented appears to be a seaman in smart 'shore-going rig', his dress, and the fact that he has a beard and of the style shown, suggest this image dates from the 1840s. These factors, with his age, make it very unlikely he could have been boatswain of a fleet flagship like 'Victory' in 1805. The image is none the less an unusually strong and competently done for a sitter of modest social status, and in a very distinctive style. It is reminiscent of theatrical portrait prints (without obviously being one) and more 'popular' than most miniatures. 'Mrs Willmett' is by a different and more conventional hand of only moderate ability and probably dates fairly closely round 1832 from the dress and hairstyle. There is no independent evidence that the two people shown orignally had any relationship, beyond the fact that the images were together before they entered the Museum. The woman may indeed be a 'Mrs Willmett' but the Trafalgar association was probably invented for unscrupulous commercial reasons. The style of engraved lettering on the brass plaque is probably mid-to late-19th century, and possibly early 20th.