The painting shows the start of the action at about 6.30pm, looking north-west across Aboukir Bay from an elevated viewpoint to the south of the bay. Nelson's fleet, led by Captain Foley's 'Goliath', 74 guns, is shown in the process of doubling the head of the anchored French line, with the Aboukir fort beyond. The attack on the French centre is from seaward but the British ship 'Zealous', 74 guns, can be seen rounding the bows of the French 'Gueerier', 74 guns, at the head of the French line, to lead an attack on the enemy van division from the landward side. In the right foreground is the rearmost of the anchored French ships of the line, the 'Timoleon', 74 guns, in port-quarter view. Ahead of her stretch the rest of the French fleet into the background in the centre of the picture. Across the right background, the British fleet is sailing into position from right to left.

In the left foreground the turbaned figures holding staffs and gesturing towards the action in the bay and the carefully positioned palm trees evoke the sense of place. In the left background, Aboukir Island is shown with guns firing from the French fort.