“The Death of Nelson” is a painting created by Benjamin West in 1806 which displays the events that unfolded in and around the death of Horatio Nelson. Nelson died fighting in the battle of Trafalgar which then triggered a major turning point in the war.  This painting is like a snapshot of the exact 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 which is to show the historical context behind Nelson’s death.

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 was Horatio Nelson.  The background of the painting shows a large conflict going on, and the 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 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 in very straight lines and are all facing the same way. This gives the viewer a sense of both 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.  The lines are important because it directs the viewers gaze to the subject and namesake of the painting Horatio Nelson.         Colors can be used to display a plethora of meanings and the specific colors West uses the painting are 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.  Black, in this work of art, adds a dark and mysterious air as well as enhancing the feeling of grief exhibited by Nelson’s fellow soldiers.  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 power and strength in those that are wearing the color.  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.  Colors also have great importance in adding culture and context to the painting through the colors of the flags.  Each flag has a specific combination of colors which place the different nations at the battle. These colors make for a very complex and meaningful picture because the overall view of the painting is generally dark, and the colors add to the historical context and culture behind this work of art.

The objects within the painting are what truly show the meaning of the painting. “The Death of Nelson” is divided into planes of sight which includes the front and back sections of this painting. The front right side features men clothed in black which is similar to Nelson, so it would seem as though the men are on the same side of the war as Nelson. Whereas, the left side of the front is cloaked in chaos with several members of shirtless men and dead bodies being trampled by the men fighting. 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. As stated before, 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 work, which are lines, colors, and objects within the painting.  The lines direct the viewers gaze to the main character in the painting; colors add symbolism and culture, and objects fully explain the historical context behind this work of art.  All of these elements help the viewer dive in to the important meaning of this painting which is to show the historical context behind West’s “The Death of Nelson”.
