Design for "The Three Captains Memorial" 1779 - 1789

Joseph Nollekens created this design for "The Three Captains Memorial" with pen and grey ink, watercolour, and graphite. The memorial presents as a constructed tableau, a layering of symbolic figures against a stark blue pyramidal backdrop. The composition employs a classical language, using allegory to convey themes of honour and remembrance. Note how the linear precision and the calculated arrangement of figures—from the reclining river god to the winged Victory—create a sense of order. The monument is structured around a clear hierarchy of forms, which may reflect the period's emphasis on reason and order. The use of watercolour allows for delicate gradations of light and shadow. This enhances the three-dimensionality of the figures, giving them a sculptural presence even on paper. The drawing does more than represent an aesthetic form, it encapsulates and questions the period's values and aesthetic ideals.