What's the story behind Turner's 'The Fighting Temeraire'? | National Gallery

[@rotterred991]

Excellent presentation! Thank you, Ms. Riding.

[@1977ajax]

Having just spent a whole year studying this painting while making a full-size copy of it, I must remark on the sheer mastery of brushwork evident in every inch of the canvas. There is no section rushed or hurried over, and nowhere in it that cannot justify admiration and merit detailed study.

[@owenbarnes773]

brilliant - thank you ... love the piece ... love the artist ... love the presentation ... love the presenter outstanding - bravo

[@nationalgallery]

Glad you enjoyed it, Owen!

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

Thank you for this video. I am always amazed and delighted at the analysis given by an expert - so much more is revealed than an image on canvas.

[@filbertpicobrain]

Thank you. I enjoyed your thoughts on Turner and The Fighting Temeraire.

[@Figueiredoartconservation]

Such a pleasure to listen you speaking about this wonderful Artist, thank you so much. William Turner's paintings in the National Gallery are breathtaking. His mastery of light, color, and movement evokes such powerful emotions. Each stroke whispers secrets of sky, sea, and land, inviting immersion. Turner's ability to convey nature's power is unmatched, leaving a lasting impression.

[@nationalgallery]

We couldn't agree more! Thanks for watching

[@UkDave3856]

Very enlightening. Thank you very much for presenting this.

[@sandfly60]

Thankyou NG and Christine Riding. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

[@RichMitch]

I'm literally at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle looking at this painting this very moment 🙃

[@Chevy-jordan]

Ah, that’s where it currently is. Was wandering why it’s not on display at TNG.

[@nationalgallery]

Perfectly timed!

[@RichMitch]

@@nationalgallery absolutely! I was asking a member of staff if they knew if the National Treasure paintings were going to be rotated around all the galleries, she did not think so. Is it something you have considered?

[@RichMitch]

​@@Chevy-jordanthis is a fantastic initiative. There were plenty of people in attendance too

[@burtonlee22]

Brilliant placing of this great work in historical context. Thank you

[@philreynolds2465]

Just to say thank you. I really appreciated the insight and perspective you have given regarding this painting and the artist. It really helps me appreciate it even more. Thank you

[@splodge57]

Wonderful talk on a lovely painting which I have looked at many times in the National Gallery and every time I pull a £20 note out from my wallet.

[@michelhedley1805]

Thank you for your excellent presentation and its insights. JMW Turner is one of my favourite artists and a must visit whenever I am in England. To me he was the Impressionist before those later Impressionists.

[@sherryzimmerman9220]

EXCELLENT Storytelling Madame……the best of Art history… Public Education and Social Media today….it is all here….for example the changing of the guard as to the flying of flags….reading a painting such as this with depth and consideration what a gift to the ages…Thank You

[@kevinchambers1101]

A marvelous presentation that was able to bring out the emotions that this wonderful painting generates.

[@nationalgallery]

Thanks so much for your lovely comment

[@nationalgallery]

Thanks for watching, Kevin!

[@CynthiaPereira-g1d]

Brilliant discussion of this iconic work.

[@alishademmery3581]

Magnificent

[@isashax]

Thanks for these videos. They are truly amazing!

[@purkaitsurajit53]

What a great explanation of a great artwork on the celebration day of the 200th year of The National Gallery!!😊😊❤❤

[@yfrontsguy]

Exquisite colours that just sing to the soul.

[@sportswriter]

Marvellous rendition, many thanks

[@lukeyznaga7627]

fantastic art and presentation of the beauty and importance of art history. the meanings and the inspiration of a "story" of a boat in art.

[@paillette2010]

Thank you!

[@liveoak4124]

Thank you

[@dkillion7485]

Interesting that the impact of photography on realism in painting had yet to occur in England and how this amazing painting foreshadows the direction painting was to go for the rest of the century. It is a beautiful and powerful painting that is 50 years ahead of its time. His looseness of technique is so beautiful in capturing the mist (and smog) of the moment.

[@joecool7035]

great Video and insights. Thanks a lot

[@eddie_d1233]

I have a print of this painting hanging in my apartment. Turner is a magnificent painter.

[@jaysmith8199]

It is my favourite Turner 😊 I come from a maritime city and I can imagine her coming into harbour, the forest of other ships moored and sailing. I would love to have seen her in her prime.

[@G6JPG]

What I like is that - partly from the title usually just giving the first three words - many people think it's about the glory of a sailing warship, whereas the warship in question is actually being tugged to the breaker's yard by a small steam tug.

[@christianfrommuslim]

Excellent exposition! Who is the best Turner expert today?

[@Semper_Iratus]

We will all each meet our own fate given time.

[@RichMitch]

Cheers for that

[@MarkLawden]

There is a great deal of artistic licence in this magnificent painting. If you look at the steam paddle tug, the funnel is impossibly situated right in the bows. The funnel is the focal point of the painting, sharply delineated and very black. That’s where Turner wants you to start looking,hence the distorted nautical anatomy. I believe in the real tug, which Turner saw, the mast would be in front of the funnel, but then you would look at the mast first. The theme of the painting is the passing of the heroic age of sail and the rise of the vigorous age of steam. It isn’t to be interpreted like a photograph.

[@baz9487]

Really enjoyed this presentation, thank you. Curious though, you mention the "Sun set" but in another presentation from the NG, there is a point made that the sun position would actually make this a sunrise rather than a sunset? is it a case that we don't really know or like most things, open for interpretation? Paintings are such a mystery to me.

[@joetoth8028]

Very nicely presented! BTW: What does "iddle" mean? I can't locate the term. Perhaps the captioning is inaccurate.

[@nationalgallery]

Thank you for watching! Sorry about that - that should read 'idyll' which has now been changed in the captions. The definition of 'idyll' is: a very happy, peaceful, and simple situation or period of time, especially in the countryside.

[@huwprice881]

Jonathan Jones' article in todays Guardian makes interesting reading.

[@romesl.2246]

Any thoughts on how the sunset is supposed to be a sunrise ? Apparently it’s geographic setting is inaccurate relative to the sun

[@Chevy-jordan]

Happy Bi-centennial NG

[@PhilipMurphy8Extra]

Time for my Culture content in National Gallery

[@barriehobbs4533]

If the ship is being towed up the Thames then the sun behind it is setting in the East.

[@atelierthhun1165]

It is perhaps worth pointing out without lessening the joy of the painting that this is a fantasy. The Temeraire had been dismasted and stripped of all rigging and gear before being towed to the breakers as a hulk and the setting, time and background are also products of Turner's imagination. It doesn't lessen its beauty or symbolism but might discourage attempts to view it as realism.

[@KingWi11]

Just want to point out that the sun and the moon are never in the same place in the sky. Think about it, the sun needs to light up the moon for us to see the moon.

[@erikakrause3044]

And a solar eclipse is…

[@johnwilliams-gz4ss]

It's sunrise, NOT sunset.

[@CheloPerales]

3:52 "particularly with the burning red blood sunset".(Can you explain why it is sunrise?)

[@brianhotaling5849]

Was he a proto-Impressionist?

[@heatherh3457]

Well this is going to make everyone want to scream at me but I just don't get it. This is such an ugly depressing picture. Perhaps this is what makes it's point but I wouldn't want to live with it. Even the dirty soot filled sky is enough to grieve ones heart. I find the majority of Turners works to have this harsh almost cruel aspect to them.

[@madamedemonsieur]

Very interesting video. I was only sorry there wasn't much mention of how significant the Temeraire, not just the navy as a whole, was in popular opinion. It was the second ship at Trafalgar. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Temeraire_(1798)#Battle_of_Trafalgar