The article is devoted to the formation and evolution of the battle genre in the Western European seascape of the XVII-XIX centuries. The authors turn to the analysis of the works of H. van Anthonissen, A. van Aertvelt, A. L. de Cercy, R. Wright and other outstanding seascape artists of the classical period. The conclusion is made about the importance of the battle seascape as a visual source for studying military conflicts of the European history.