The morning after Trafalgar
1863
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1888
- Gallery location
- Not on display
About this work
British admiral Horatio Nelson defeated the French and Spanish fleets at Cape Trafalgar on the southern Spanish coast on 21 October 1805. This victory broke the naval power of France for the remaining years of the Napoleonic wars. This painting by Clarkson Stanfield shows the disabled vessel San Ildefonso near the centre of the composition. She is flying the Union flag over Spanish naval colours, indicating that she is the prize of the British ship The Defence. Stanfield conveys in this work all the tragic destruction consequent on battle.
Artwork Details
Purchased, 1888
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Exhibited, Royal Academy, London, 1863, no. 123 as The situation of His Majesty’s Ship, “The Defence,” and her prize, “Il St. Ildefonso,” on the morning following the Battle of Trafalgar...; Exhibition of the Works of the Old Masters associated with a collection from the works of Charles Robert Leslie RA and Clarkson Stanfield RA, Royal Academy, London, 1870, no. 213 as The Day after Trafalgar, lent by James Price Esq.; Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Manchester, 1887, no. 570, as The Morning after Trafalgar, lent by James Price Esq.; British Loan collection, Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888–89., no. 55, lent by James Price.