A detailed maritime painting by Nicolaas Baur depicting the British and Dutch fleet preparing for the bombardment of Algiers in 1816.

This painting by Nicolaas Baur depicts the naval preparations preceding the bombardment of Algiers on 26 August 1816. The scene focuses on the HMS Queen Charlotte, the flagship of Admiral Lord Exmouth, positioned within a fleet of British and Dutch vessels. Baur, a Dutch artist known for his meticulous attention to maritime detail, captures the tension of the moment through the arrangement of the ships and the atmospheric conditions of the Mediterranean coast.

The composition organises the fleet in a semi-circular formation, drawing the eye toward the central flagship. The rigging, sails, and hull structures are rendered with technical precision, reflecting the artist's deep familiarity with naval architecture. Small rowing boats navigate the choppy waters in the foreground, providing a sense of scale against the massive warships. The light, characteristic of Baur's work, is soft and diffused, casting a pale glow over the horizon and the distant shoreline of Algiers.

Historically, this event marked a significant action against the Barbary States to suppress the slave trade. Baur captures the quiet before the conflict, focusing on the tactical positioning of the fleet rather than the violence of the engagement itself. The work serves as a record of the naval cooperation between the British and Dutch forces during this period. The palette remains restrained, dominated by the cool blues of the sea and the warm, hazy tones of the sky, which unify the expansive maritime scene. The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is recognised for its contribution to the documentation of nineteenth-century naval history.