Now on display in the Queen’s House, Turner’s The Battle of Trafalgar is one of the many artistic treasures to see.
The painting’s Greenwich connections stretch back to 1829, when George IV donated it to the National Gallery of Naval Art at Greenwich Hospital – an institution that provided care for retired sailors. The work was one of the highlights of the popular gallery and became well-known among the British public.
Following the closure of the Naval Gallery in 1936, Turner’s The Battle of Trafalgar was transferred on long-term loan to the newly established National Maritime Museum.
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The latest chapter in its Greenwich story occurred in October 2025, when the painting was installed in the Headmaster’s Drawing Room and Dining Room in the Queen’s House. Because of the work’s size, the installation process was especially complex. The canvas had to be carefully craned and manoeuvred through a window. The sections of its frame were reassembled once inside.
Come and see Turner’s The Battle of Trafalgar for yourself – and read on to discover the stories linked with the artwork.