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

'The Fighting Temeraire' by Joseph Mallord William Turner is one of the nation’s most beloved paintings, capturing the moment that HMS Temeraire was towed up the Thames to Rotherhithe to be broken up, in the 19th century. But what did this symbolise to the British people at the time? And how does Turner use his unrivalled skill as a landscape artist to capture the moment?
Christine Riding, Director of Collections and Research at the National Gallery, shares her thoughts on why this is such an important work.
As part of the programme of events to celebrate our Bicentenary, 12 of the nation’s most iconic and well-loved paintings from the collection are being lent to 12 venues across the UK.
See Turner's 'The Fighting Temeraire' at Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne until 7 September 2024: www.nationalgallery.org.uk/ex...
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The National Gallery houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The museum is free of charge and open 361 days per year, daily between 10am - 6pm and on Fridays between 10am - 9pm.
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Пікірлер: 54

  • @1977ajax
    @1977ajaxАй бұрын

    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.

  • @rotterred991
    @rotterred991Ай бұрын

    Excellent presentation! Thank you, Ms. Riding.

  • @sacredkinetics.lns.8352
    @sacredkinetics.lns.8352Ай бұрын

    ` Your content is well appreciated. Thanks National Gallery. 🌺🌹

  • @elizabethannegrey6285
    @elizabethannegrey6285Ай бұрын

    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.

  • @RichMitch
    @RichMitchАй бұрын

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

  • @Chevy-jordan

    @Chevy-jordan

    Ай бұрын

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

  • @nationalgallery

    @nationalgallery

    Ай бұрын

    Perfectly timed!

  • @RichMitch

    @RichMitch

    Ай бұрын

    @@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

    @RichMitch

    Ай бұрын

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

  • @Figueiredoartconservation
    @FigueiredoartconservationАй бұрын

    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

    @nationalgallery

    Ай бұрын

    We couldn't agree more! Thanks for watching

  • @michelhedley1805
    @michelhedley180528 күн бұрын

    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.

  • @burtonlee22
    @burtonlee2220 күн бұрын

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

  • @sandfly60
    @sandfly6018 күн бұрын

    Thankyou NG and Christine Riding. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

  • @owenbarnes773
    @owenbarnes773Ай бұрын

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

  • @nationalgallery

    @nationalgallery

    Ай бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it, Owen!

  • @alishademmery3581
    @alishademmery3581Ай бұрын

    Magnificent

  • @dkillion7485
    @dkillion7485Ай бұрын

    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.

  • @philreynolds2465
    @philreynolds2465Ай бұрын

    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

  • @lukeyznaga7627
    @lukeyznaga7627Ай бұрын

    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.

  • @eddie_d1233
    @eddie_d1233Ай бұрын

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

  • @sherryzimmerman9220
    @sherryzimmerman9220Ай бұрын

    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

  • @jaysmith8199
    @jaysmith8199Ай бұрын

    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
    @G6JPGАй бұрын

    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.

  • @paillette2010
    @paillette2010Ай бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @isashax
    @isashaxАй бұрын

    Thanks for these videos. They are truly amazing!

  • @splodge5714
    @splodge5714Ай бұрын

    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.

  • @liveoak4124
    @liveoak4124Ай бұрын

    Thank you

  • @kevinchambers1101
    @kevinchambers1101Ай бұрын

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

  • @nationalgallery

    @nationalgallery

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks so much for your lovely comment

  • @nationalgallery

    @nationalgallery

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching, Kevin!

  • @joecool7035
    @joecool7035Ай бұрын

    great Video and insights. Thanks a lot

  • @purkaitsurajit53
    @purkaitsurajit53Ай бұрын

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

  • @yfrontsguy
    @yfrontsguyАй бұрын

    Exquisite colours that just sing to the soul.

  • @user-wc8gi7bp6q
    @user-wc8gi7bp6qАй бұрын

    Brilliant discussion of this iconic work.

  • @christianfrommuslim
    @christianfrommuslimАй бұрын

    Excellent exposition! Who is the best Turner expert today?

  • @sportswriter
    @sportswriterАй бұрын

    Marvellous rendition, many thanks

  • @user-sq5uo8oh3g
    @user-sq5uo8oh3g20 күн бұрын

    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.

  • @Semper_Iratus
    @Semper_IratusАй бұрын

    We will all each meet our own fate given time.

  • @RichMitch

    @RichMitch

    Ай бұрын

    Cheers for that

  • @huwprice881
    @huwprice881Ай бұрын

    Jonathan Jones' article in todays Guardian makes interesting reading.

  • @joetoth8028
    @joetoth8028Ай бұрын

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

  • @nationalgallery

    @nationalgallery

    Ай бұрын

    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.

  • @philipmurphy2
    @philipmurphy2Ай бұрын

    Time for my Culture content in National Gallery

  • @Chevy-jordan
    @Chevy-jordanАй бұрын

    Happy Bi-centennial NG

  • @romesl.2246
    @romesl.2246Ай бұрын

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

  • @barriehobbs4533
    @barriehobbs4533Ай бұрын

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

  • @KingWi11
    @KingWi11Ай бұрын

    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

    @erikakrause3044

    Ай бұрын

    And a solar eclipse is…

  • @atelierthhun1165
    @atelierthhun116519 күн бұрын

    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.

  • @brianhotaling5849
    @brianhotaling584924 күн бұрын

    Was he a proto-Impressionist?

  • @johnwilliams-gz4ss
    @johnwilliams-gz4ss28 күн бұрын

    It's sunrise, NOT sunset.

  • @CheloPerales

    @CheloPerales

    23 күн бұрын

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

  • @madamedemonsieur
    @madamedemonsieur22 күн бұрын

    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

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