The Battle of Trafalgar
J. M. W. Turner · 1823
Why it's great
Great wooden ships fire their guns in a smoky sea battle, as sailors battle on deck and in the water. Turner painted this scene from the Royal Navy's 1805 victory, in which Admiral Nelson died. It was commissioned for King George IV. It's a record of a famous naval battle.
🏛️ Part of history
Napoleon & the Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815) — Turner paints the 1805 sea battle where Nelson's fleet destroyed the French and Spanish ships.
Where to see it
📍 National Maritime MuseumLondon, United Kingdom
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
J. M. W. Turner was born in London, the son of a barber, and became a student at the Royal Academy at just 14. He traveled across Britain and Europe, painting storms, ships, and sunsets in swirling light and color. He called the sky his subject, and his late paintings are almost abstract. He left thousands of works to the British nation when he died in London in 1851.
