A great warship, the HMS Temeraire, appears on the left side of the scene, its pale hull and tall masts rising in ghostly tones against a blue and gold sky. A small, dark paddle-wheel steam tug pulls the Temeraire forward, its smokestack trailing a plume of black and red smoke that cuts sharply through the misty air. The tugboat flies a white flag, while the old ship itself is stripped of its sails and colours, its rigging hanging slack and its decks empty.

The water is calm and reflective, mirroring the ships and the glowing sky, with a single buoy or mooring post visible in the lower right foreground. The sky dominates the upper half of the composition, filled with swirling clouds and streaks of gold, orange, and rose, as the sun sets low on the far right horizon. Turner arranges the composition so that the Temeraire stands apart, bathed in cool, silvery light, while the tugboat and the sunset are rendered in warmer, earthier tones.

The brushwork is loose and expressive, especially in the sky and water, where the paint is swept and blended to create the effect of glowing light and shifting atmosphere. Small details, such as the rigging on the ships and the smoke from the tug, are painted with delicate, precise strokes that contrast with the broader treatment of the sky. A faint crescent moon is visible high in the upper left corner of the sky, almost blending into the pale blue atmosphere.

In the middle distance to the right of the tugboat, a smaller sailing vessel with white sails glides across the water, partially illuminated by the sunset. Several tiny, indistinct boats and masts can be seen on the far right horizon, silhouetted against the glowing sky. The lower left corner of the painting features a small, dark plank or piece of driftwood floating on the water's surface.

The sunlight falls most strongly on the water near the setting sun, creating a bright, golden reflection that spreads outward in streaks. The paint in the far right sky is applied in thin, sweeping strokes, with visible lines and scumbles that suggest the movement of clouds and light.