Bellerophon (1865)

Scale: 1:48. A plan showing the carved work on the bows proposed for Bellerophon (1865), a central battery ironclad. An amended submission by Hellyer in 1865 was approved (see NPN1076, letter reference DM3297-65). This proposal was a profile carving of a Greek warrior within a round escutcheon framed by stylised foliage. Howerver, the ship's bow was reshaped with the addition of a knee just below the bowsprit and a new set of carvings added, made up of the Union Flag within a scrollwork framed cartouche.

The pencil sketch is the bust of a bearded male warrior facing forwards wearing a stylised Greek helmet. The bust is in the centre of a curved escutcheon, which has inward-facing scrollwork at the top and bottom. Below the shield is a ribbon in which the ship’s name would have been painted. Down the side is stylised foliage in curves. In the centre of the foliage boarder is a crown through which are arrows and two swords. Two small rectangular and one triangular pieces of the paper have been cut out from the plan.