Behind Nelson in the right of the picture are more figures: Midshipman the Honourable Granville Proby, Lieutenant Henry Compton, and Edward Gallwey, the ‘Vanguard’s’ first lieutenant, who is preparing to take charge of the boat. To Gallwey’s left is an unnamed sailor with another identifiable as Garrett Grenin. In the left foreground of the picture is the mainmast with three sailors to the right of it hauling on the clew lines. Beyond, silhouetted against the explosion, is the ‘Vanguard’s’ boat with two sailors in it, and below it are sailors swinging it out. In the centre of the picture, to the left of Captain Berry, are Midshipman Francis Collier and Marine Anderson. Across the background can be seen the anchored ships of the opposing fleets, the British in quarter view, the French in starboard-bow view. The explosion is in the left background.

The portraits in the painting were mainly done from sketches taken from life. Orme also published a key and description, now lost, in which it states that the figures in the exhibited version of the picture were full-size, although its whereabouts are not known. It was engraved and published by Orme in 1800 and again in 1805.