The closest ships on the painting are Austrian frigates Schwarzenberg (right) and Radetzky (left). The Battle of Heligoland (or Helgoland) was fought on 9 May 1864, during the Second War of Schleswig between the navy of Denmark and the allied navies of Prussia and Austria south of the then-British North Sea island of Helgoland.

For full description about the battle of Helgoland including image of one other version by the same artist (situated now in Austrian museum) see following link from the wikipedia free encyclopedia:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Heligoland_(1864)#/media/File:Josef_Carl_P%FCttner_Seegefecht_bei_Helgoland_1864.jpg

The author of our painting, well-renown Austrian marine and landscape painter Josef Carl Berthold Puettner (1821 - 1881) worked in Vienna, and since 1869 in Bad Vöslau. Since 1842 regulary participation on exhibitions of Viennese Academy, since 1861 - member of the arist union"Kuenstlerhaus". In 1846/1847 he lived in Rome, travelled to Holland, Island. Later he returned to Vienna , where created landscapes paintings after his travels. Being the only seascape painter in this city, has received a lot of orders for seascapes. In 1850 he visited the island of Helgoland and Hamburg, where he became friendship with an owner of ships Godefrua, which give him an opportunity to make a great sea voyage. In 1851, rounded Cape Horn, Püttner visited Valparaiso and some of the islands of the Pacific Ocean, traveling in South and North America, after which he returned to Vienna. Results of this journey were paintings: "Storm at sea and shipwreck off Cape Horn" (1854! Viennese national gallery);"Venetian Lagoon" (1857), "Sea battle near Helgoland" (1864), "Sea battle near Lissa" (1866), "Moonlight on the sea shore," "Fire on the ship", "Castaways" and others. In 1869 he settled in Bad Vööslau by Vienna.

Most important works by Puettner are in Museums: Rudolfinum in Praque, Salzburg, castle Weikersdorf and under important European and American collections.

For other works by Puettner see our item numbers 875, 3449, 3595, 4356, 4545 and 4619.

Inscription: signed and dat 1865, lower right.

Technique: oil on canvas. Luxuriousy original period gold-plated frame.

Measurements: unframed 40 1/2" x h 59 1/2" (103 x 151 cm); framed w 77 1/2" x h 59 1/4" (197 x 150,5 cm).

Condition: in very good cleaned condition, original canvas; the original frame and gilding was partly cleaned and restored.