The Death of Nelson is a painting done by Benjamin West in 1806.  This painting displays the events that unfolded in and around the death of Horatio Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar. This painting is almost like a snapshot of the exact moment or moments soon after Nelson’s death. By looking at “The Death of Nelson” we see the lines, colors, and objects within the painting are important because they emphasize the true meaning behind the painting.

During the analyzation of West’s work, capturing and describing the lines of sight within the painting is very important. The center of the painting is focused on Horatio Nelson collapsed on the ground.  The most obvious line is the line of sight of the circle of soldiers directing their gaze at the collapsed man who used to be Horatio Nelson.  The background of the painting shows a large conflict going on, and the majority gaze on Horatio Nelson gives off a sense that the soldiers took a brief pause in shock from the tragedy of their leader dying.  This painting is almost like a snapshot of the exact moment or moments soon after Nelson’s death.  This central line helps direct the viewer to the main focus of the painting. Another important line shown in the painting is the line made by the soldiers themselves.  The soldiers on the right front side of the painting are form very straight lines and are all facing the same way. This gives the viewer a sense of calm and sorrow when looking at this side of the painting. Whereas the left front side of the painting all of the soldiers and officials form erratic nonconforming lines, which gives the viewer an inside look on the actual tragedy and severity of the situation.  Both of the sides of the painting as well as the lines of sight act as a frame for the focal point of the painting.  This is important because it directs the viewers gaze to the most important part of the painting. 

The colors within the painting are also very important to the analyzation of the actual painting.  The three main colors used in this painting are red, black, white and grey.  From an initial glance at the painting it could be assumed that the author used the colors red and black to show the opposing sides in this battle. However, these are not the only meanings a viewer could receive from these colors. The color red is used in this painting as not only a way to tell the soldiers a part, but as a way to show the severity surrounding this event. Red is also a color of passion, the usage of this color really exemplifies the passion in the war between France, England and Spain, and the intense feelings the soldiers were having about Nelson.  The black in this photo further exemplifies the grief encompassing the death of Horatio Nelson.  Red and Black are the most pronounced colors in this painting. The color white is only seen among a few of the people in this painting which means that it has a definite importance.  The color is seen on Horatio Nelson himself and the man directly beside him, and in this case the white pants symbolize standing.  Grey also has a very important part to play in the overall ambience of this work of art.  This color adds a sense of mystery to what is going on.  Grey clouds of fog and mist distort the characters and setting in the back of the painting.  The combination of colors also represents the colors of the flags of neighboring nations.  These colors make for a very complex and meaningful picture.  

The objects within the painting are what truly tells the story of the painting.  The front section of the painting is focused on what is happening with Nelson.  Each side of the front features different types of people within this work of art.  The right side features men in black, which could be inferred to be fighting for the same cause as Nelson, appear to be calm and collected. Whereas, the right side of the front is cloaked in chaos with several members of shirtless and bodies at the bottom of a pile of fighting men. The painting gains context and depth with the ships in the background.  Because the painter added the ships into the background, it allows us to get a full understanding of the context and helps us effectively analyze the painting.  In the very back of the painting there are flags visible. This is very helpful because it allows us to see which nations were involved in the fighting.  West’s decision to show the upper deck of the ship also added to the depth of the photo. The upper deck shows the more violent fighting, which puts the actual severity of the situation into perspective. Putting this element in the painting helps the viewer wrap their head around the fact that although the painting is named “The death of Nelson”, it is also about the battle of Trafalgar itself.  

In conclusion, there are many elements in this painting that could be used to analyze this painting. The three that are the most prominent are lines, colors, and objects within the painting. These parts of the painting help the viewer recognize the important parts of the painting and help with the analyzation of West’s Work.
