The flames, painted in streaks of orange, yellow, and red, leap up into the sky and cast a fierce glow over the water below. Billowing clouds of smoke, rendered in swirling, textured brushstrokes, drift to the right and merge into the night sky, which shifts from deep blue at the top left to a smoky grey over the burning buildings. On the left bank, a dense crowd of figures gathers along the edge of the river, their forms loosely suggested by clusters of dark, earthy tones and quick, animated marks.

The river, broad and calm in the foreground, mirrors the fiery spectacle above, with streaks of gold and orange rippling across its surface. To the right, several boats and barges float on the river, some carrying small groups of figures who watch the blaze from a distance. The far bank and distant city are veiled in haze, with faint outlines of buildings and towers barely visible through the smoke and atmospheric effects.

Turner uses vigorous, expressive brushwork, especially in the flames and sky, where thick, energetic strokes convey the drama and movement of the disaster. In the foreground, the paint is applied more densely, creating texture and depth, while the background dissolves into misty, luminous washes that suggest distance and chaos. Small details, such as the silhouettes of onlookers and the subtle reflections in the water, reward close inspection and heighten the sense of immediacy. Joseph Mallord William Turner is named as the artist, and his handling of light and atmosphere dominates the scene.

No further details are given about the circumstances of the painting's creation or its subsequent history.