Geoff Hunt canvas - Trafalgar: The Flagships in Action, 21st October 1805 at about 12.40 pm. Bucentaure, HMS Victory, HMS Royal Sovereign & Santa Ana

New:  Signed and numbered limited edition giclee print on canvas by Geoff Hunt PPRSMA

1. Edition of 200 on Canvas / Image size: 16 3/4 x 30 inches (42.5 x 76 cm)

2. Edition of 50 on Canvas / Image size: 20 x 36 inches (51 x 91.5 cm)

At about 12.40 Vice-Admiral Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory, leading the British windward line, broke through the Franco-Spanish line, dealing as she passed a devastating blow to Vice-Admiral Villeneuve’s flagship Bucentaure. This very famous moment is often depicted. Less frequently seen is the engagement between two other flagships, Vice-Admiral Collingwood’s Royal Sovereign, leading the British leeward line, and Vice-Admiral Alava’s Santa Ana, an action which by this time had already been in progress for thirty minutes.

Following Royal Sovereign were Belleisle and Mars and as they came into action with the Fougeux, Indomptable and Monarca, these ships, together with Royal Sovereign and Santa Ana, formed a melee which practically stalled in the very light winds, meaning that a large gap, of between half and three-quarters of a mile, opened up between this group and the Victory/Bucentaure action, particularly since the San Justo and San Leandro, which had been next in line following Redoutable,  had worn away to leeward, the San Justo firing a broadside at the Royal Sovereign. So for a time, until the rear of the Franco-Spanish line caught up and overtook the ships already in action, the battle consisted of two widely separated engagements. 

To the left foreground Victory is firing her full broadside as she slowly crosses the stern of the Bucentaure, while at the extreme left the French Neptune fires at Victory, and visible beyond Victory are the masts of Nelson’s nemesis the Redoutable, soon to collide with the Victory. At the extreme right appears HMS Temeraire, Victory’s next in line, which is about to pass to starboard of the Victory. In the centre distance is the action centred around Royal Sovereign, Santa Ana and the associated melee, while coming into view beyond are the ships of the Franco-Spanish rear.