To starboard of the Victory, partially obscured by smoke are the sterns of the Redoutable and possibly the Téméraire. To the right of this trio a British two-decker, in port bow view, is firing into a dismasted two-decker also in bow view. Further to the right and closer is a frigate in stern view. Beyond her in the background is the stern of the Royal Sovereign breaking the enemy line, and in the right background are more ships in action. The burning Achille is visible on the far right. In the central foreground a group of French or Spanish sailors are shown amid wreckage, desperately clinging to a large spar, and there are other sailors in the water. Two British ship’s boats approach to rescue them from the left and the right, their officers standing up, gesturing and issuing instructions.

Drummond exhibited a painting of the Battle of Trafalgar at the British Institution in 1825 but it was smaller than this canvas.