Lemuel Francis Abbott

Lemuel "Francis" Abbott (1760/61 – 5 December 1803) was an English portrait painter, famous for his painting of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (currently hanging in the Terracotta Room of number 10 Downing Street) and for those of other naval officers and literary figures of the 18th century.

[2] In 1775, at the age of 14, he became a pupil of Francis Hayman and lived in London, but returned to his parents after his teacher's death in 1776.

[2] There he continued to develop his artistic talents independently, but some authorities have suggested that he may also have studied with Joseph Wright of Derby.

[1][3][4] In 1780, Abbott married Anna Maria, and again settled in London, residing for many years in Caroline Street in Bloomsbury.

His 1797 portrait of Horatio Nelson was commenced during a period where both men were living in the same lodgings in London's Bond Street.