Turner: Painting The Fighting Temeraire | National Gallery

[@JevaisaNY]

You can tell the enthusiasm for Turner overwhelms him. His mind is flooded with ideas, he’s buzzing.

[@janebrettell1737]

Jasmine Bird indeed, he needs to calm down and be more measured which would make it much more enjoyable to listen to, I feel out of breath can’t listen anymore......😼

[@thesoultwins72]

@@janebrettell1737 ........Totally agree Jane - Mr Morgan is a dreadful presenter and I stopped watching immediately after his [pointless] self-introduction.

[@powerbite92]

@@thesoultwins72 That presentation was a disaster. "Here we can see there is smoke" "Now we know that this is water.. Here is Turner showing us the effects of light on water.." Terrible delivery. Meaningless content. Perfect encapsulation of "adult learning experience programming" British institutions nowadays.

[@thesoultwins72]

@@powerbite92 .....It's absolutely astonishing just how poor most people are at making a relatively simple presentation. Yet according to studies on what the most important [business] competencies are - presentation skills ranks number 4!

[@michaelcoe9824]

Please, your knowledge of subject is obviously comprehensive but you need some presentational skills. Accept training.

[@214santanu]

Thousands of miles away from The National Gallery I am watching this delightfully incredible lecture!!! Thanks a ton for this

[@kimhansen8615]

How cool you publish these presentations. I cen comfortly sit in my living room hundreds of miles away and visit the National Gallery at the same time - in front row! Marvelous! Thank you for the presentation, good man. I tend to imagine Turner is also doing a bit of a self portrait here...

[@nicolarollinson4381]

One of my favourite paintings. I love Turner's style

[@Aldoborzoni]

One of my favorite paintings since I was a child. I'm 70 now and iI still find it very moving.

[@ezicarus8216]

That is very nice. Do you have any other life long loves in art?

[@tobycaldow868]

It reminds me of the opening paragraph of The Guns of August. The passing of an era

[@catzenhouse]

A student teacher in an art class during my final semester in high school introduced me to Turner and it was love at first sight. Many, many years later I got to see "Temeraire" in person and started to cry when I stood in front of it. My one and only trip to England - I had two particular art goals, to see "Temeraire" and Millais' "Ophelia" which my senior honors English introduced me to that same semester. (I'm now 71.)

[@deundestiip6733]

​@@catzenhouse ...să fiți sănătos, sunteți un "TEMERAR " .

[@keybawd4023]

He's an inspirational lecturer. Brilliant. Thank you

[@thomask1424]

I went with a curator many years ago, he was just as passionate about drawings and paintings as this fellow. Brings back memories.

[@kooale]

Love the presenter, his enthusiasm, the painting & Turner. I now have a much greater appreciation of the picture. Greetings, many thanks from Chicago.

[@99thehighstreet69]

I stuck with him.hes bloody good and highly likable . top hats off to this guy.brilliant passion.

[@Gar96229]

I’m not sure who this man is, but I hope the National Gallery is paying him well; he is incredible!

[@kevinkiso4579]

Yes, absolutely. Wonderful, superfluous vernacular. Top bloke, without a doubt.

[@55north17]

I agree. His staccato type delivery takes my attention away from what he is saying. Just wanted him to shut up and let me interpret the painting myself. @@stewartbrands

[@conorferguson]

Stating the obvious is a fine art indeed. I love it when condescension is used to inform us of things that our own eyes are viewing. Wikipedia are shaking in their boots after this insightful presentation.

[@Tconcept]

Passion has nothing to do with money.

[@jillswarbrick-banks2587]

Thank you Matthew, this lecture really has expanded my appreciation for this wonderful painting.

[@007NowOnline]

SkyFall brought me here. I'm on a bit of a James Bond binge and a scene with this painting caught my eye and I had to learn more about it. :)

[@eddiethecounsel]

Q brought me here

[@lesliemaitland3551]

It's a good movie that stimulates one to know more!

[@IcelanderUSer]

This is one of my favorite paintings of all time. Love this so much. A grand old sail ship from the navy being scuttled by a age, and by the coming steam age. You see the steam ship pulling the old ship to its end. Like us we too get old and scuttled.

[@softailrider3129]

Scuttled is a deliberate sinking. This ship is being towed to the breakers yard. Just saying...

[@IcelanderUSer]

@@softailrider3129 You’re right. My bad.

[@dutchmilk]

JMW Turner. I grew up inspired by his work. People tend to focus on his vibrant colors but it is his later work and life that is brilliantly interesting. Senior Turner was by most accounts, a stingy, private old man with somewhat an acquired bitterness in him. Yet his later work was increasingly fierce and positive. His work literally shines. Unlike many successful artists who became dull and negative in their later life, Turner somehow rebel against his aging through his works.

[@a-g3003]

I’ve wanted to make a drink for a while but I couldn’t pause this. Enthusiasm for a fantastic painting.

[@johnkulczycki3021]

Turner's representation of light is amazing

[@chrisecker9341]

Here we meet in a passion for art and Turner. Thanks for this video.

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

Presentation was great, enthusiastic and informative. Well done that man and ignore the trolls.

[@milfredcummings717]

Um, I actually enjoyed his conducting, too bad the music is off in the video.😊

[@johnabney3530]

This was a very refreshing presentation, he showed true passion and interest in the subject. Turner needs more vociferous fans like this, his talent tends to get overlooked. 👏🥂

[@mch12311969]

Turner is also one of my favorite artists. I was able to view this particular painting when it was exhibited in Los Angeles a few years ago it is rather dramatic,

[@classicartfoundation639]

Turner was so ahead of everything, the way he made stuff so delicate and took hard edges off of objects, beautiful

[@markmeade2937]

To me Turner is one of the worlds greatest painters, the use of colours to obtain the effect of light scattering from objects is breathtaking, his seascapes are unparalleled, he was a complete genius, I must also add the John Constable is another genius of painting as well, and they where around at the same historical time , Britain was truly blessed

[@markmeade2937]

@@ezicarus8216 You don’t know very much about art do you ……. And I will say no more than that …………

[@ezicarus8216]

@@markmeade2937 I know as much as the limitations of being human allows, if you too have a modest understanding of the history of art you may understand why I hate Turner and I have given him many opportunities, seeing many in person, up close. I would concede his greatness on this point, I am initially repulsed then bored by his paintings and evoking such a strong emotion through paint may very well prove his greatness. I prefer Monet, Cezanne and even Klimts impressionism, Gustav is lesser known for this style but I like it's rawness and subdued pallet in comparison to Monet, although more refined and restricted than Cezanne, it is these three laid the path to today, not the misery of Turner, Constable and the Dutch Golden age of browns mixed with depression. What contemporary painting style do you enjoy today Mr Meade? If you look at Turner's raw ability laid bare in Going To Sea (1832) you may see what I see in every Turner. An oddly composed, uninspiringly sketched painting, unfortunately highlighting new softened interpretations of light with a blanket fog does not impress me. Nearly every single painting, covered in fog. What really jars me about Turner is his incorrect perspective, it is not misplaced in a jazz or golden ratio way, intelligently bringing focus to an area, it is always focusing attention to a blank boring part of the canvas, and his attempts at Venetian inspired city scapes do the masters a great disservice, in modern Rome 1839 and the decline of the Carthaginian empire the perspective is disturbingly incorrect for a draghtsman. If he dug deeper, maybe he could have used the techniques of the great artists he was impersonating, namely a pin hole camera and a ruler. It shows an over confidence and premature technical ability. He idolised Claude Lorrain, requesting his own Dido building Carthage be hung alongside Lorrain on his death, Turner's attempt is paradoxical exposed as vastly inferior. Lorrain was an undisputed master and his perspective was flawless, he had a deep and meaningful understanding of the mechanics of what is depicted. Turner did not. Not only am I repulsed by Turner's paintings, he was not someone I would have been friends with, after his Royal Academy ascension, he took the same honor away from Constable, voting against his application to join, three times. Not only was his ascension at just 14, damaging to his continued development as a great artist, he actively restricted an undeniably talented artists exposure, proliferation and opportunities. Not nice.

[@markmeade2937]

@@ezicarus8216 I’m just not going to agree with you, i was introduced to Turner and John Constable at an early age, around 8 years old , been to the National Gallery and have seen there work close up and love it, both there seascapes and landscapes. I love the way there paint is use to convey light and texture and as Turner got older the more abstract he became. I love Rubens , Sargent, Hans Holbein and Van Gogh . I respect your point but I’m afraid I have to disagree on this one , but I will respect your point of view and leave it at that

[@markmeade2937]

@@ezicarus8216 To me looking at a painting and the way it makes you feel both emotionally and the way the painting is technically painted , the colours used and whether it’s a landscape, seascape , still life or portrait is how I see a painting, drawing or pastel . I love pen and ink drawings too. All artists are different but wonderful, they bring many things to life in there artwork and that is why I have certain favourites. I have seen some very disrespectful comments on KZbin and we are all different, o see your point and respect that point but for me a painting must move me emotionally when I look at it and both Turner and Constable do that for me. To others they don’t but me personal preference are those two great painters . Walking into the National Gallery is an explosion of colour and light , the beauty of an artist eye forever in time and space . 👍

[@bluebear6570]

For me, Turner is the best impressionist painter ever!

[@jamesscott1189]

A beautiful Turner. And an appropriate frame. Gorgeous.

[@jmmartin7766]

Some have described the speaker's enthusiasm as little more than a distraction. It's more of an inspiration when you listen to his narration "through the lense" of telling an exciting story-- the epic history of the Temeraire, and of Turner's wonderful ability to record the ship's passing into history while utilizing such beautiful and dramatic color, style and technique

[@markberryhill2715]

Lucky I have a picture of this in my painting book so I can reference it to see the closeups of where he is pointing.

[@ezicarus8216]

I was lucky enough to stand a few inches from a few Turner's. I saw nothing interesting.

[@cecilefox9136]

Matthew speaks very clearly for foreign listeners!

[@paulinelamb4311]

He certainly does!

[@haroldgodwinson832]

Interesting lecture although I must confess I found the staccato presentation difficult to take at times. The painting of course is quite amazing.

[@davypaul9827]

I must confess, I had to look up what is meant by "staccato." Having done so, You have perfectly used it. Thank you for your unintended education, haha. For me, it was one of those things where I sensed something but wasnt able to explain....until your comment. I say again, Thank you. But the painting...WOW is that supreme.

[@peterbrenton410]

Indeed and a little 'shouty' down .Needs to ease up a tad . it's not easy to do

[@classicartfoundation639]

Yeah what was that about? Maybe he battles a stutter

[@ezicarus8216]

@@classicartfoundation639 I like his presentation style. Just not suited to this miserable painting.

[@silvikociu6321]

So insightful. I almost wept for this ship.

[@montsesobraldorado5910]

Thank you very much for sharing these talks. I have enjoyed very much the point of view that Matthew Morgan gave on this wonderful painting by Turner. Hope to watch many more soon!

[@teacher3469]

Wonderful painting with an insightful interpretation. Well done young man!!

[@ghostofguy]

Brilliant video. More please.

[@ejej6934]

For those who find this man's presentation style a bit too hyper, I recommend watching any of the National Gallery videos in which Colin Wiggins is the lecturer. He has a wonderful, organized, calm temperament and way of speaking that makes one glad to watch the entire video.

[@ineskaselitz4942]

The first thing that came into my mind when I saw this painting was that the big ship towed along by the tug looked like a phantom ship ...a ghost of itself already.

[@rodriguezricomanuel]

Great lecture of this amazing painting. Thank you for share this great talk of Matthew.

[@sharper113]

This was very interesting. Gives one pause as to what Turner was trying to convey within this painting....Thanks...

[@alexwilson365]

Amazing presentation. I had this painting as an essay for Fine Art at Portsmouth Uni. The spokesman was very accurate on how the painting is conveyed. I am a plasterer and decorator now decided I couldn't make a career in fine art alone.

[@andrewashdown3541]

My brother did a very fine copy of this, his favourite painting - I still have

[@andrewashdown3541]

@@ezicarus8216 He did about a dozen paintings, but not Turner. He did admire Turner the most, followed by I think Renoir

[@susanstephens9870]

Excellent. The narrator paints a picture on our thoughts .

[@jay33346]

I like to think that Turner saw in the Temeraire the end of his own youth. The fighting Temeraire indicates his own will as he is carried off to his final sunset, replaced by the modernity of new artists.

[@TheWaveGoodbye-Music]

but like the ship, taken apart, analysed so we can built upon what came before, nothing went to waste :)

[@ezicarus8216]

An excellent interpretation of this painting

[@JacquelineDavis]

Incredible presentation! Especially regarding Turner’s working class background which greatly inspired his vision for the future of industrialization. 👏

[@janjapolanec9426]

It's a wonderful lecture. Thank you.

[@papagen00]

amazing how so many words can be said about a simple little picture. Reminds me of the Home Shopping Network.

[@stardresser1]

There is nothing simple about the deep seated regard for this painting, it's subject, or it's artist. It represents many many things to the UK. It was the last ship, and the WINNING ship of the Napoleonic Wars. It was a ship which helped dramatically turn the tide of victory to the English. Maybe watch less HSN and read more?

[@dubliner1100]

Wonderful presentation thank you

[@jacelibarreto4960]

Lindas pinturas de Turner , inspiração para todos nós artistas plásticos 🌇🌇🌇

[@EsseJD]

Totally loved this, thanks so very much 👏 Bravo This Channel is amazing 💐

[@lyndao7356]

Yes, enthusiastic fella. Knows and loves his paintings though.

[@ezicarus8216]

The world needs more humans like him. Passionate.

[@peterdewint2053]

A brilliant lecture! Anyone interested in exploring this picture further might wish to read the book by Judy Egerton (1995).

[@bawbtherevelator6445]

You anticipated my fascination perfectly! 50 + years ago Turner mesmerized me and I went to the Tate ASAP. This presentation reawakened my enthusiasm and Judy Egerton's book would be terrific. Thanks so much.

[@gretchengetsinger7938]

Very interesting lecture. Thank you.

[@flaviacavallini1650]

Thank you, fantastic presentation!

[@wattck]

Very interesting, there is so much in this painting, many questions, which raise yet more. A wonderful painting by a great artist and explanations from an entusiastic and capitvating Matthew Morgan. I chanced upon this video, and just had to watch it. The first of many I suspect. Turner was a fantastic Artist and as just a painting The Fighting Temeraire is one of his best, but it's far more than a simple painting isn't it. It's a story in itself. Wow!

[@lucycasas2012]

Fabulous approach, thank you.

[@deepakraajan2247]

The colour with difference on bottom right corner in actually an eye... Glittering....For the glory of its faithful, the ship with the shadow.. Depicts a dog..Loyal faithful and brave.

[@petermacleod5710]

Turners skies were the aftermath of the eruption of Krakotao (which we call Krakatoa). The dust lingered in the stratosphere for a decade or more giving the wonderful red sunsets

[@lidijaberlot7743]

A most interesting remark!

[@sevroaubarca306]

Wait, didn´t the one ''big'' Krakatoa eruption take place in the 1880s?

[@Engelbird]

Mount Tambora in Indonesia. 1815.

[@Pola_B_Alex_Art]

Excellent presentation!❤❤❤

[@c0ronariu5]

This guy needs to slow down and take a breath. I’m getting breathless listening to him

[@alexiazhang8878]

Same. He’s buzzed

[@99thehighstreet69]

Back again .epic watch

[@rachelsremedies2602]

I’m from New York City and love these lectures and I understand most of it even with the British accent!

[@seagull_b_2868]

A wonderful, uncradible lection! Thank you a lot, it was very interesting!

[@iac4357]

Thank You, Sir !

[@CarlBowlby]

Actually watched the whole thing IN SPITE of the hackneyed presentation. My God, man, calm down, it’s a bloody painting!

[@LaoZi2023]

An interesting British series that, of course fictionally, depicts the fight for, and "death" of the sail ships in favor of steam ships is The Onedin Line- found here on KZbin. A very good production of sailors, what they might have gone through out at sea, and life at the sailing towns and families.

[@radiogurlie25]

One of my childhood favs Williaam Turner

[@mashed9603]

Thanks for posting this. Really interesting

[@aatt3209]

I was first introduced to this painting in the 007 movie "Skyfall" as Q & Bond sat in front of this painting to meet. It's delightful to learn more about the painter & this painting.

[@007NowOnline]

Same here. Im on a James Bond binge and this painting caught my eye and I had to learn more. :)

[@marknelson5929]

Absolutely fascinating description etc one of my favourite Turner paintings - BUT please the vessel behind the tug is not a 'boat' as you keep saying it's a SHIP! The 98-gun HMS Temeraire. 'Boats' have life vests for the crew (hence their small size), or in those days nothing! SHIPS have lifeboats even in HMS Temeraire's time, which were called gigs, sloops, long boats. But thanks anyway for the evocative description.

[@matthiasbeck8123]

Amazing 🔥🔥 Great great presentation Matthew.. (I just found causally this video cause I have to present a painting from Turner next week at the university, great inspiration).

[@cuddleswithcavies9969]

I literally found out about this painting because of the new Animal Crossing New Horizons game. I saw it and thought what a beautiful yet sad painting and wanted to know more about it. Awesome video, thanks!

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

It's often said a ship costs 10% of its initial cost per year to keep it ship-shape. By my calculation that would be 500 oak trees!

[@manuelkonig7944]

This painting combines both. Saying goodbye and hello at the same time.

[@claudefrance22]

Wonderful

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

Anyone know the watercolour painting he is referring to near the beginning? The one Turner painted from memory alone in front of onlookers? Thanks !

[@Rickyee]

great energy by the speaker

[@nev707]

I wonder how many bits of oak furniture out there are made from bits of this ship.

[@jas20per]

Having been told the background of this ship at Trafalgar in my teens, and where it was heading in this painting, it has always given me feeling of sadness.

[@Shave-ice]

crazy how tech advanced so fast. This just shows the two worlds of the past and present colliding. just 30 years before, sailing was the way to move ships, but now steam. What a great end to a once glorious ship at once a glorious time.

[@georgerobartes2008]

Yes its a sunrise and the sky is red . From the old phrase " Red sky in the morning , shepherds warning . Red sky at night , shepherds delight " , Turner is warning us that tommorow or ' the future' may not be as rosy at it would seem .

[@annastevens1526]

Really interesting to contrast Mr Morgan's presentation style here to his later ones, a couple of years later... Very different demeanor, much more calm and easy-speaking. Wonder whether it was just a case of his becoming more comfortable in public speaking through continued practice, or intentionally taking instruction based on feedback received, or...? Turner's work still seems to be quite divisive even this long after its construction, but one can't help but admire his rise from the working class background of that era to being an artist at such a young age!

[@stevenfromer3816]

Magnificent

[@anthonystavely9947]

Fabulous

[@pearlpark7259]

He puts a period after every word. “Turner. Is. Not. Interested. In. Conveying. What. Happened. In. The. Event.” Omg... managed to listen to the while lecture only because indeed this painting is fascinating and it was a good lecture..

[@55skonge55]

I like the frame though - what sound would it make if you stroked your finger along its corrugated ribs- a soundtrack to Matthew's first airborne flight maybe ! The painting is very sad - like the rouged lips of an ageing harlot ...

[@jacmaria]

Mute this, go with subtitles. Fantastic series.

[@jayhenderson8483]

How does Turner depict inanimate objects with such pathos. He clearly felt a personal sorrow on the breaking up of the Temeraire.

[@Istrice963]

Perfect presentation ❤

[@jrccdowning500]

Thank you

[@johnclark1843]

Brilliant

[@wiltrudfriesch6781]

Beautiful painting. Need something similar, an explaination, for the painting "Fields in Spring" by Monet. I always thought it looks like summer. The meddow looks dry and one person has a sun umbrella. And what holds the 2 nd person in her hands? Is it even a Person? The brown spot in the field, it looks also like a oversized chicken.

[@karaloca]

He should’ve framed it with the wood from the Temeraire.

[@007NowOnline]

Fantastic idea!! That "wood" have been amazing. :P

[@thepatquinn]

What a nice man.

[@Eris123451]

I think the painting can speak for itself and that trying to second guess what Turner, "really meant," can a bit of a Snark Hunt. Nonetheless this is and interesting and fun excursion, one that encourages people to think about what they're looking at. Thank you.

[@truecinnamon]

Sunset over a scrap-yard is a trite metaphor. Hackneyed. When it comes to blowing smoke though....

[@andrewclayton4181]

The sunset does indicate the end of an era. By this time all of the navy's wooden walls were obsolete. I link the situation to the sad end of the Warspite, which broke it's tow on the way to being scrapped, and ran aground. A futile attempt to avoid it's fate.

[@lisastallingskeelor3328]

The colors and theme are both very sellable today. Not that this piece is up for sale but a lot of old paintings are no longer desirable due to changing tastes in interior decorating.

[@goldigit]

Great lecture but I kept hearing John Cleese in parts of the delivery.

[@dragonclaws9367]

I learned about Temeraire from His Majesty's Dragon.

[@暗示夢故事]

4/23 Happy Birthday～威廉透納🎂

[@tonygriffin_]

I came here in the hope of finally finding an explanation of what the object in the lower right is. I love this painting and have done so since I first saw it in the National Gallery 40 years ago but this cylindrical, tilted, dark object (a barrel, a bouy?) has always niggled at me. Wiki doesn't explain it in its analysis and. apparently, neither does anyone else, including Mr Morgan here. It doesn't seem necessary to the painting, unlike every other object which has emotional and symbolic value as well as visual impact. It is a mystery to me!

[@Auriflamme]

I'd have to agree, it would be marking the shallows or a shoal to warn boatmen to keep in the channel.

[@matthewhackett1710]

The dark object. Important, maybe. It is a buoy. Importantly, if you zoom into focus on it, you can see that it is itself producing it's own wake and a bow-wave. That indicates that the tug was itself pulling the Temeraire against the tide, itself signalled as maybe fighting the passage of time, fighting the natural forces that run against us all no matter how busy we are? I strongly recommend seeing the picture in real life. On the wall, it singularly lights up the entire wall of many tens of great works. On it's own one's eyes are drawn to the luminosity of the sunset/rise?? You can't not look straight at it.

[@Teh_Goat]

I read it as technological innovation but at what expense? Note the clear skies around the HMS Temeraire and the pollution in the air beside the coal fired tug. The red hew is also cast onto the beach where they are both headed It's an early story of pollution Temeraire is in a bubble of incorruption demonstrated with a sharp reflection of the moon on the water whilst to the right the Sun' reflection is barely registering on a mottled shoreline

[@russefrance4869]

Excellent presentation....but these days someone of 64 is not an 'old man'.

[@evangelist6277]

I too am a big fan of Turner. If he had stopped dancing around and was a little more fluid in his speech this would have been more enjoyable.