The Battle of Trafalgar by Clarkson Frederick Stanfield

The Battle of Trafalgar — Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (1836)

Vast sky, charging fleets, a day decided in wind and smoke. This fine-art reproduction—after Clarkson Frederick Stanfield’s 1836 canvas for the United Service Club, Pall Mall—presents Trafalgar at about 2:30 pm, in an unusual lee-side viewpoint where the sky fills three-quarters of the composition. Painted three decades after the battle, Stanfield’s sweeping stagecraft and seaman’s eye render Britain’s most storied naval victory with atmosphere, discipline, and scale.

Why it captivates

• A fresh vantage — the rarely shown lee-side perspective reframes familiar Trafalgar iconography.

• Epic sky — a dramatic firmament commanding three-quarters of the picture amplifies light, weather, and fate.

• Painter of rig and sea — Stanfield’s stage-trained composition and maritime accuracy hold up at close study.

• Moment in time — fixed at ~2:30 pm, the melee is legible without losing its urgency.

• Provenance & prestige — created for the United Service Club and exhibited at the Royal Academy (1836).

• Room-anchoring presence — a panoramic statement for study, library, office, or gallery wall.

What you’ll see

The British fleet drives on under a towering sky, sails straining on the lee side as broadsides strobe along the line. Distant hulls stagger through powder haze; closer yards cant and brace as ships answer helm and wind. Stanfield balances grand weather with disciplined rigging detail, building a truthful sense of motion—canvas, spars, smoke, and sea bound into a single, accelerating field of action.

A richer historical frame

Painted in 1836, some thirty years after the 21 October 1805 battle, Stanfield’s Trafalgar was commissioned for the United Service Club (Pall Mall) and shown at the Royal Academy. A virtuoso of marine light and theatre, Stanfield channels veteran testimony and practical seamanship into a composition that privileges weather, lee-side dynamics, and sky-driven drama—a compelling counterpoint to the more familiar weather-gauge portrayals.

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 × 483 mm (approx. 33.11 × 19.02 in)

• Orientation: Landscape

• Aspect ratio: ~1.742 : 1

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

• Framing tips:

  • Classic look: Use an A1 frame with a mat window cut slightly undersize (e.g., ~837 × 479 mm) to overlap edges by 2–3 mm.

  • Contemporary look: Float-mount in an A1 frame—the taller A1 height creates elegant top/bottom reveals.

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

Specifications

Who it’s for

• Maritime historians & scholars analysing line-of-battle tactics and period rig

• Collectors & curators of 19th-century British marine painting

• Educators & museums teaching Trafalgar and the Napoleonic naval wars

• Interior stylists & designers seeking a heritage centrepiece with panoramic lift

• Gift-givers honouring 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.

Let Stanfield’s sky and seamanship command the room—order your fine-art print of The Battle of Trafalgar today.