Real Carlos | Alejo Berlinguero | 18th Century

Navío Real Carlos of the Spanish Navy, depicted by Alejo Berlinguero (1750–1810).

This finely detailed maritime illustration portrays the Real Carlos, one of the great three-decked ships of the line of the Spanish Navy. Berlinguero records the vessel under full sail, carefully rendering its elaborate rigging, heavy gun decks and richly decorated hull. The work reflects both the imposing scale of Spain’s late 18th-century warships and the precision of contemporary naval draughtsmanship. The illustration is held in the Museo Naval, Madrid.

Launched at Havana in 1787, Real Carlos was a powerful 112-gun ship of the line built during a period of major expansion and modernisation of the Spanish fleet. She served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, but her career ended tragically at the Second Battle of Algeciras in 1801. During a confused night action against a pursuing British squadron, Real Carlos and the Spanish ship San Hermenegildo mistakenly opened fire on one another. The two vessels became entangled and caught fire, eventually exploding with the loss of hundreds of sailors in one of the most devastating disasters in the history of the Spanish Navy.

Frame:

Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age.

All framed prints feature our premium fine art paper. This is a museum-quality paper which reproduces photography and artworks with exceptional tonality and renders sharp details with consistent flatness and accuracy.

Print: 

For the matted / mounted prints we use a thick 1.4mm window mount cut from premium, textured mountboard. All mounts are "conservation grade", FSC certified, 100% acid free, and will not discolour or fade with age.

• Simple, elegant design
• Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface
• Handmade by specialist picture framers
• FSC certified off-white mat / window mount
• Delivered ready for hanging