This poster print features Joseph Mallord William Turner's The Fighting Temeraire.
The painting was thought to represent the decline of Britain's naval power. The 'Temeraire' is shown travelling east, away from the sunset, even though Rotherhithe is west of Sheerness, but Turner's main concern was to evoke a sense of loss, rather than to give an exact recording of the event.
The spectacularly colourful setting of the sun draws a parallel with the passing of the old warship. By contrast the new steam-powered tug is smaller and more prosaic.
About this painting
The Fighting Temeraire, 1839 Oil on canvas, 90.7 x 121.6 cm
© Turner Bequest, 1856
This poster displays the artist's name and the National Gallery logo at the bottom.
