Mahan's portrait of Nelson emphasizes the difficulty of compressing a varied temperament into a single character sketch. Nelson could be irritable over minor matters yet composed in danger. Officers who served with him recalled his calm, animated concentration during battle, when less assured commanders became uncertain. The contrast also complicated visual portraiture: after the Battle of the Nile, an Italian painter reportedly refused the captains' commission because he could not reconcile Nelson's humility and ambition in one likeness. These recollections distinguish peevishness over trifles from steadiness under fire.
Notable Point · 1:16:55-1:19:53
Nelson's temperament under fire in Mahan's character study
Mahan uses officers' recollections and an unsuccessful portrait commission to examine Nelson's composure in danger and irritability over trifles.