Turner

Introducing a masterpiece from the National Gallery, this beautifully illustrated book explores the story behind Turner’s Fighting Temeraire.Turner’s Fighting Temeraire is one of the most famous paintings in the National Gallery. This grand war vessel had played a distinguished role during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Turner’s painting shows it being towed along the Thames to be scrapped, a poignant memorial to the ship’s heroic history.Jacqueline Riding looks into the story behind this iconic painting, exploring Turner’s innovative technique as well as the historical context in which the work was created. Laden with poetic and patriotic resonances, it held a special place in the artist’s affections; he decided early on to gift it to the nation and kept the painting until he died. This book illuminates the history of this masterpiece of British art.Published by National Gallery Global Ltd/Distributed by Yale University Press