Battle of Trafalgar - Destruction of
the Bucentaure by Ivan
Berryman. Part of a series of Trafalgar paintings by Ivan
Berryman, featuring HMS Victory, Nelson, and the British, French and
Spanish ships of the Battle of Trafalgar.. With her
mizzen top already gone and her sails aloft having received severe
punishment, Victory breaks through the line behind the French flagship
Bucentaure, delivering a shattering broadside into her stern. So severe
was this opening fire that the Bucentaure was effectively put out of the
rest of the battle, although Admiral Villeneuve himself was to
miraculously survive the carnage. Beyong Victory can be seen the French
Redoubtable, which is receiving fire from Victorys starboard guns, and
the Spanish San Leandro is in the extreme distance. Most of Victorys
stunsails have been cut away, but it was her stunsail booms that became
entangled with the rigging of the Redoubtable when she put her helm to
port and ran onto her. Admiral Nelson fell shortly afterward, having
received a fatal wound from a musket ball fired by a French sharpshooter
in Redoubtables mizzen fighting top. The Temeraire can be seen
approaching the fray to the right. |
|
|
|
Research photographs: |
|
Various shots of HMS Victory of particular relevance
to this artwork, taken by Ivan Berryman, about 2002 - 2003. The
sole surviving British warship of this time, and restored her former
glory, this museum provides great insight into not only HMS Victory, but
many of the other ships of the time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
