“The Fighting Temeraire”, by J M W Turner

A justly famed masterpiece

“The Fighting Temeraire” (the full title includes the words “tugged to her last berth to be broken up”) is possibly the best-known painting by JMW Turner (1775–1851) and is one of the major attractions of the National Gallery, London. It is a masterpiece of light and colour, and one of the most atmospheric works of art ever committed to canvas.

The painting commemorates a great “ship of the line” that played an important role in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 alongside HMS Victory. However, Turner’s painting shows this warrior in her last days, being hauled up the Thames for the final time, to be broken up at Rotherhithe. Turner witnessed this event in 1838 and his painting was created shortly afterwards.

HMS Temeraire had quite a short life, being built in 1798 to carry 98 guns, thus counting as a “second-rate” ship of the line, although the term did not imply any sense of inferiority when used in naval parlance. Temeraire’s role at Trafalgar was vital, coming to the rescue when it looked as though Victory, Nelson’s flagship, might be boarded. Nonetheless, by 1838 there was little call for massive three-masted sailing ships in the British Navy, and Temeraire’s fate was sealed.