The Battle of the Nile by William Lionel Wyllie

The Battle of the Nile — William Lionel Wyllie (1899)

Smoke, flame, and rigging etched against an Egyptian sunset. This fine-art reproduction—after William Lionel Wyllie (1899)—summons the three-day clash off Aboukir Bay (1–3 August 1798), when Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson drove the Royal Navy into the anchored French line under Vice-Admiral Brueys. It’s the Mediterranean campaign at full pitch: masts braced, broadsides flaring, the shoreline fort answering from the sand—history turning in salt spray and firelight.

Why it captivates

• A pivotal victory — the action that crippled French sea power and reshaped the Napoleonic Wars.

• Painter of the sea — Wyllie’s celebrated draughtsmanship and atmosphere: smoke, light, and disciplined chaos.

• Grand maritime theatre — British van cutting in; French line at anchor; Egyptian guns on the shore.

• Educator’s dream — a rich, legible scene for teaching tactics, ships, and the Nile campaign.

• Timeless décor — a commanding horizontal composition that anchors study, library, or office walls.

What you’ll see

A panoramic view into Aboukir Bay: the anchored French line stretching toward the head, with British ships bearing down to double the van and centre. Gun flashes crackle along the broadsides; smoke rolls low over the water; spars and ensigns mark identity and station. The Egyptian coast looms beyond—fort guns and gunboats pricking the dusk—while the sea, ruffled by evening breeze and recoil, carries the eye from near-water detail to distant silhouettes.

A richer historical frame

The Battle of the Nile crowned a three-month pursuit of the French expedition that sailed from Toulon toward Alexandria with Napoleon’s army aboard. Nelson’s arrival on 1 August 1798 unleashed a night-into-dawn engagement that shattered the French fleet and isolated the army ashore. William Lionel Wyllie (1851–1931)—one of Britain’s foremost marine painters—rendered the subject with the accuracy and atmosphere that made him a favourite of sailors, collectors, and museums.

Choose your finish

🌟 Heavyweight Paper (160 gsm matte)

• Archival-grade, smooth matte stock ideal for framing under glass.

• Crisp linework and tonal depth with minimal glare.

💎 Laminated (True Encapsulation)

• Encapsulated in 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate, sealed edge-to-edge for durability.

• Wipe-clean surface—perfect for classrooms, studios, and busy spaces.

🪵 Laminated + Timber Hang Rails (Ready to hang)

• Lacquered natural timber rails with fitted hanging cord; no frame required.

• Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.

🏆 Archival Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte)

• Museum-quality texture with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for rich tone and crisp detail.

🪵 Canvas + Timber Hang Rails (Gallery-ready)

• As above, supplied with lacquered natural timber rails and hanging cord.

• Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.

Size (W × H)

841 × 457 mm (approx. 33.11 × 17.99 in)

• Orientation: Landscape

• Aspect ratio: ~1.840 : 1

• Nearest standard frame: A1 (594 × 841 mm) — landscape

• Framing tips:

  • Classic look: A1 frame with a custom mat; cut the window slightly undersize (e.g., ~837 × 453 mm) to overlap the print by 2–3 mm.

  • Contemporary look: Float-mount in an A1 frame—the generous mat margins create a clean panoramic reveal.

Custom sizing: Available on request (alternate aspect ratios or a white border added).

Specifications

Who it’s for

• Maritime historians & scholars

• Collectors & curators of Age-of-Sail art

• Educators & museums teaching the Nile campaign and Napoleonic naval warfare

• Interior stylists & designers seeking heritage centrepieces

• Gift-givers celebrating sailors, veterans, and seafaring families

Our Commitment

Every print is produced locally in Australia on premium substrates with careful colour management, then checked and packed by hand so it arrives ready to impress. From studio to wall, we stand behind the craftsmanship and historical integrity of your piece.

Command the room with Wyllie’s maritime mastery—order your fine-art print of The Battle of the Nile today.