Victory Breaks the Enemy Line

Trafalgar 21st October 1805. The climactic moment of the career of Victory as Nelson drives her into the French and Spanish line at Trafalgar, her sails already rent by the unreturnable fire she endured during the long approach to the enemy line. Victory is about to pass under the stern of the French flagship, Bucentaure. The port broadside of Victory, about to be unleashed, is thought to have dismounted twenty guns and killed or wounded four hundred men, virtually eliminating Admiral Villeneuve”s flagship from the battle. Entering from the left is the 74-gun Redoutable; from this ship was fired the shot that killed Nelson. View Artist’s Biography