Painting of the Month

Artistic Licence

The painting depicts an event which happened in real life, but it didn't aim to be an accurate documentary record of the 'Temeraire's' last voyage. Turner wanted viewers of his painting to think about how the 'Temeraire' had served her country in the past, and how Britain now seemed to have turned its back on her. When he exhibited the picture in 1839, he included these lines in the display:

'The flag which braved the battle and the breeze,
No Longer owns her.'

Indeed, the 'Temeraire' doesn't fly the union flag any more. Instead, a white flag flutters from the mast of the tug. It was the banner which showed that a ship was in commercial hands; however, it also makes the 'Temeraire' look as if she's being brought in under a flag of surrender, a further insult to her memory.

Previous | Next

Back to Painting of the Month page

Back to The Greatest Painting in Britain