The Duke of Wellington was a colossal figure of the early Victorian era. Fêted for his victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 which ended the Napoleonic Wars, he went on to become prime minister. Wellington’s death was a personal blow to Victoria and Albert, who greatly admired him and gave his name to their third son, Arthur. This watercolour conveys the magnitude of the public response to the death of a national hero.