This chaotic and crowded scene depicts the Battle of the Glorious First of June 1794 which took place off Ushant between the British and French naval fleets. Various ships are dis-masted and some are sinking. Sailors cling to the yards, rigging and wreckage floating in the sea. Ships’ boats, in the foreground, are overloaded with officers and crew. The French flagship Montagne, under command of Rear-Admiral Louis Villaret-Joyeuse, flying the French flag from the mainmast, is shown on the right of the scene.

This battle was the first fleet action in the French Revolutionary Wars. The British Channel Fleet under Admiral Lord Howe, in his flagship Queen Charlotte, was attempting to prevent a French convoy, carrying grain from America, reaching the French coast. The convoy was protected by the French Atlantic Fleet under Rear-Admiral Villaret-Joyeuse. Both sides claimed a glorious victory, but both fleets were badly damaged. Although the grain convoy did reach the French coast, the French fleet was so damaged that it was out of action for some time.