The state funeral procession of the Duke of Wellington passing through Trafalgar Square, London, 18 November 1852

Coloured lithograph by and after Lady Emily Susan Drummond, 1852.

The death of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) on 14 September 1852 marked the passing of an era. The victor of Waterloo and vanquisher of Napoleon, Wellington was perhaps Britain's greatest ever soldier, but as commander-in-chief of the Army in his old age, his belief that past methods were the best had acted as a brake on progress. Although his death provided the opportunity for military reform, the outbreak of the Crimean War (1854-1856) just over a year later meant that the time available for any reforms to take effect would be limited.

The procession of Wellington's funeral cortège to St Paul's Cathedral was watched by over a million people. The artist has depicted the funeral car, weighing 18 tons and from a design inspired by Prince Albert, passing through Trafalgar Square.