Bombardment of Algiers (painting)

The Bombardment of Algiers refers to a series of paintings depicting the Anglo-Dutch naval attack on Algiers in 1816. The most well-known depiction is a large oil painting by British artist George Chambers the Elder, completed in 1836. This painting, along with others by various artists, commemorates the military action undertaken by Lord Exmouth of the Royal Navy to suppress white slavery as practiced by the Barbary pirates of Algiers. The paintings typically show the intense naval battle, with ships of the line exchanging fire with the coastal defenses of Algiers. Recurring elements include the smoke of cannons, the disposition of the ships (often focusing on Exmouth's flagship, HMS Queen Charlotte), and the overall scale of the assault. The paintings serve as historical records and patriotic representations of British naval power and the anti-slavery cause. Different artists interpreted the event with varying degrees of accuracy and artistic license, focusing on different aspects of the battle and employing different artistic styles.