The Battle of Trafalgar - Steven Dews

Edition is limited to 1805 total in any size, on paper or canvas. Gouttelette Limited Edition print is available in four different sizes on paper and three on canvas. The total edition size is strictly limited to 1805 hand-numbered copies, each print will include a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the artist.

Steven Dews’s spectacular canvas, The Battle of Trafalgar, reached a new world record price for the artist when it was auctioned in Bond Street, London, in the summer of 2005. The eventual buyer paid over £95,000 for this painting (approximately US$170,000), which was the highlight of a day-long sale to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Nelson’s great victory at Trafalgar. The original painting is one of the largest the artist has ever created, with dimensions of 40” x 66”; the painting took seven years from commission to completion.

Trafalgar was the greatest battle of the age of fighting sail and marked a key turning point in Napoleon's campaign to secure European domination. Napolean's armies may have been all-conquering but the British had mastery of the seas.

On October 21st, 1805, the combined fleet of 33 French and Spanish ships, under the command of the French Admiral Villeneuve, was confronted by a fleet of 27 ships of the Royal Navy, led by Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson on board the Victory, off Cape Trafalgar, on the Spanish coast. Rather than fight broadside-to-broadside in two long lines, Nelson's unusual plan was to attack the French and Spanish line in two columns from the west and hope to break straight through the centre, effectively dividing the fleet and bringing the British into close action with the enemy, where their experience and superior gunnery would prevail.

The focus of Steven Dews's remarkable painting is the moment at which Victory flanked by the Temeraire, broke through the enemy lines, sustaining and exchanging a severe pounding as she passed Villeneuve's French flagship Bucentaure, shown sailing out of the picture. This was just before the moment at which Nelson was first hit by the musket ball from which he would die four hours later, at the moment of his greatest victory.

Limited Edition goutelette print on paper. Edition of 1805 total of all sizes printed.

Standard Size: Image - 11 x 19ins / 28 x 48cm
Paper - 17 x 23ins / 43 x 58cm 

Medium Size: Image - 18 x 30ins / 46 x 76cm 
Paper - 22 x 34ins / 56 x 86cm

Large Size: Image - 24 x 40ins / 60 x 102cm
Paper - 28 x 44ins / 71 x 112cm

Very Large size:  Image 40 x 66 inches / 102 x 168cm
Paper - 44 x 70 inches / 107 x 178cm

Limited edition goutelette on canvas, varnished:   Image - 18 x 30ins / 46 x 76cm 

Please email for framing options.