The Battle of Copenhagen by Nicholas Pocock

The Battle of Copenhagen — Nicholas Pocock (1809)

Guns working in grey light, anchors down, resolve unblinking. This fine-art reproduction—after Nicholas Pocock, 1809—fixes 2 April 1801, when Nelson attacked the Danish line at anchor to break the Armed Neutrality of Russia, Sweden, Denmark and Prussia. Amid smoke and shoals his plan was simple and ruthless: concentrate on sections of the defence and defeat them in detail. Signals of recall flew—Nelson famously raised the glass to his blind eye—yet the fight ground on to truce, diplomacy, and an armistice that unpicked the coalition.

Why it captivates

• Nelson’s second great battle — a twin to the Nile, fought against an enemy at anchor.

• Audacity under pressure — recall signal ignored; the line holds; the guns decide.

• Topographic truth — channels, shoals and bomb-vessel arcs rendered with seamanlike care.

• Command focus — Elephant flying the blue vice-admiral’s flag, calm at the furnace’s centre.

• Engraver’s detail — painted for reproduction, every spar and splash earns its place.

What you’ll see

Nelson’s line, anchored and hammering at the Danish line that lies between him and Copenhagen. Slightly left of centre, his flagship HMS Elephant flies the blue vice-admiral’s flag. Along the bottom right, bomb vessels ride the edge of the Middle Ground shoal, lobbing shells over both fleets toward the city. The panorama reads like a chart come alive: gun smoke drifting down the channels, wreckage in slick water, masts fading into a cold northern sky.

A richer historical frame

In early 1801 the Northern coalition threatened Britain’s trade and naval reach. Nelson intended to isolate Danish positions and break them piecemeal; the outcome remained in doubt until he treated for a truce to save the wounded in burning hulks—while using diplomacy, threat and bluff to secure an armistice. News of Tsar Paul I’s assassination (received in London before the battle) helped collapse the league soon after.
A Bristol sailor before he painted, Pocock worked from annotated drawings and sketch plans; this canvas was executed for engraving in Clarke & MacArthur’s Life of Nelson (1809).

Choose your finish

🌟 Heavyweight Paper (160 gsm matte)

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

• Crisp linework and legible labels 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 × 593 mm (approx. 33.11 × 23.35 in)

• Orientation: Landscape

• Aspect ratio: ~1.418 : 1 (close to A-series)

• 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 × 589 mm) to overlap edges by 2–3 mm.

  • Contemporary look: Float-mount in an A1 frame; the ~1 mm height difference to A1 is easily absorbed for an even reveal.

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

Specifications

Who it’s for

• Naval historians & scholars studying Nelson’s at-anchor offensives and northern strategy

• Collectors & curators of Age-of-Sail and Nelsoniana

• Educators & museums teaching the Armed Neutrality and Baltic geopolitics

• Interior stylists & designers seeking a cool-toned, narrative maritime centrepiece

• 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.

Set Copenhagen’s guns on your wall—order your fine-art print today.