Ontploffing van het Franse schip L'Orient tijdens de Slag bij de Nijl, 1 augustus 1798 1800 - 1812

William Ellis's "Ontploffing van het Franse schip L'Orient tijdens de Slag bij de Nijl, 1 augustus 1798" is a dramatic depiction of the Battle of the Nile, a key naval engagement during the Napoleonic Wars. The print, created between 1800 and 1812, shows the explosion of the French ship L'Orient, a moment of triumph for the British fleet. This detailed artwork, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies the popular interest in documenting historical events through visual means. Ellis's masterful use of light and shadow accentuates the chaos and destruction of the battle, effectively conveying the gravity of this pivotal moment in maritime history.