The Trafalgar Storm - Oil on canvas by Geoff Hunt RSMA.

Sold by Art Marine, 2018

The battle of Trafalgar was followed by days of heavy storms, when the crews of dozens of badly damaged ships from both fleets tried to save their ships from being driven ashore while coping with many hundreds of badly injured men. Survivors spoke of the storms being worse than the battle. 

Three of the big beasts of the British fleet were all so badly disabled that they were under tow for long periods by other ships, some of which were themselves damaged. Nelson's flagship Victory was towed by Euryalus, then Polyphemus, then Neptune. Collingwood's flagship Royal Sovereign was towed by Neptune and then Mars, while the famous Temeraire was towed by Sirius and then Defiance.

This painting shows HMS Mars standing by the dismasted Royal Sovereign, Admiral Collingwood's flagship. Mars had been towing Royal Sovereign for two days up until just before the scene depicted in this painting, when the towing cable parted. Shortly after this the Mars, which had been in the thick of the fighting at Trafalgar, and whose Captain Duff had been killed, was herself dismasted. But both ships eventually reached harbour safely.

Oil on linen, signed lower left, in a hand-finished gilt frame.

Canvas size: 20 x 30 inches (51cm x 76cm)
Frame size: 26 x 36 inches (66cm x 91.5cm)