[1] It depicts the Battle of Abukir fought on 8 March 1801 during the French invasion of Egypt.

British forces led by Ralph Abercromby made an amphibious landing, but came under intense fire from French troops.

The British took casualties, but made a successful landing and two weeks later won a further victory at the Battle of Alexandria.

[2] The engraver Luigi Schiavonetti produced a print based on the painting in 1804.

[3] Today the painting is in the collection of the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh, having been acquired in 1986.