The Opening Engagement at Trafalgar; H.M.S. Royal Sovereign raking the stern of the Spanish flagship Santa Ana — J. W. Carmichael (1856)
A thunderclap that starts a legend. In this striking fine-art reproduction—after John Wilson Carmichael, signed and dated 1856—Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood’s HMS Royal Sovereign tears into the Combined Fleet, raking the stern of Spain’s three-deck flagship Santa Ana (112 guns) to open the Battle of Trafalgar. Smoke shears across a steel-blue sea; timbers fly; ensigns whip; and the first devastating broadside sets the tempo for Britain’s decisive victory.
Why it captivates
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The first hammer-blow — Collingwood’s Royal Sovereign delivers the opening rake that breaks the enemy’s nerve.
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Clear tactics, high drama — line-breaking, stern-rake, and close-quarters gunnery captured in one cinematic instant.
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Historically resonant — a named-ship duel between Royal Sovereign and Santa Ana at the battle’s very spark.
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Mariner’s eye — Carmichael’s disciplined rigging, smoke, and sea state hold up at close study.
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Statement piece — a horizontal showstopper for study, library, office, or gallery wall.
What you’ll see
Royal Sovereign surges in under a press of canvas, astern of Santa Ana, her guns flaring straight through the Spanish flagship’s vulnerable stern galleries. Splinters and spray explode forward; battle lanterns and ensigns pierce the powder haze. Around them, hulls yaw and heel as yards brace to the wind, while distant ships of the line exchange thunder along a horizon crowded with masts, flags, and falling rig.
A richer historical frame
On 21 October 1805, Nelson split the Combined Fleet with two columns; Collingwood led the lee column in Royal Sovereign and fired the opening broadside with this famous stern-rake into Santa Ana. Painted three decades later, Carmichael’s 1856 canvas distils eyewitness accounts and seamanlike observation into an image that explains how Trafalgar began—decisively, audaciously, and at point-blank range.
Choose your finish
🌟 Heavyweight Paper (160 gsm matte)
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Archival-grade, smooth matte stock ideal for framing under glass.
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Crisp linework and tonal depth with minimal glare.
💎 Laminated (True Encapsulation)
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Encapsulated in 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate, sealed edge-to-edge for durability.
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Wipe-clean surface—perfect for classrooms, studios, and busy spaces.
🪵 Laminated + Timber Hang Rails (Ready to hang)
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Lacquered natural timber rails with fitted hanging cord; no frame required.
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Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.
🏆 Archival Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte)
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Museum-quality texture with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for rich tone and crisp detail.
🪵 Canvas + Timber Hang Rails (Gallery-ready)
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As above, supplied with lacquered natural timber rails and hanging cord.
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Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.
Size (W × H)
841 × 488 mm (approx. 33.11 × 19.21 in)
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Orientation: Landscape
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Aspect ratio: ~1.723 : 1
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Nearest standard frame: A1 (594 × 841 mm) — landscape
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Framing tips:
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Classic look: Use an A1 frame with a mat window cut slightly undersize (e.g., ~837 × 484 mm) to overlap edges by 2–3 mm.
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Contemporary look: Float-mount in an A1 frame—the taller A1 height creates elegant top/bottom reveals.
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Custom sizing: Available on request (alternate aspect ratios or an added white border).
Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | The Opening Engagement at Trafalgar; H.M.S. Royal Sovereign raking the stern of the Spanish flagship Santa Ana |
| Painted/Date | J. W. Carmichael, 1856 (signed lower right: John Wilson Carmichael) |
| Historical Context | 21 Oct 1805, Collingwood’s Royal Sovereign opens Trafalgar by stern-raking Santa Ana (112) |
| Commission/Provenance | After the signed 1856 work by John Wilson Carmichael |
| Print Size | 841 mm (W) × 488 mm (H) |
| Available Finishes | Paper, Laminated, Laminated + Timber Hang Rails, Canvas, Canvas + Timber Hang Rails |
| Paper Weight | 160 gsm archival matte |
| Laminate | 2 × 80-micron gloss (true encapsulation) |
| Canvas Weight | 395 gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas |
| Inks | Pigment-based, fade-resistant |
| Optional Hang Rails | Natural timber, lacquered; fitted hanging cord (allow up to 10 working days) |
| Origin | Printed in Australia |
Who it’s for
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Naval historians & scholars analysing Trafalgar’s opening manoeuvres
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Collectors & curators of 19th-century British marine painting
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Educators & museums teaching line-of-battle tactics and the Nelson touch
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Interior stylists & designers seeking a heritage centrepiece with narrative power
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Gift-givers honouring sailors, veterans, and maritime 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 Carmichael’s opening salvo set the tone—order your fine-art print today.
