Lemuel Abbott is most commonly recognised for creating the best-known and much reproduced image of Horatio Nelson, the original of which hangs in the Terracotta Room of Number 10 Downing Street.
In fact, he painted the portraits of many leading 18th century figures, particularly male naval officers and literary figures.
Mainly self-taught, he studied for a short time as a pupil of Francis Hayman. In 1780, Abbott married and settled in London and began exhibiting regularly at the Royal Academy, showing fifteen portraits there between 1788 and 1800. His portraits were engraved by well-known engravers and he had an apprentice in Ben Marshall, who became an accomplished sporting painter.
Unfortunately, from 1798 Abbott’s mental state deteriorated to the extent that he was ultimately certified insane; it has been suggested this was the result of disappointment at his failure to secure an Associateship of the Royal Academy, his inability to stay on top of his work load and domestic disputes. He was treated by Dr. Thomas Monro, a medical specialist in mental health and artistic patron, whom Abbott had portrayed and exhibited at the R.A. in 1800.