Turner gives us Nelson's Victory looming huge, ineffably terrible at Trafalgar, a battle that had already passed into mythology when Turner painted his tremendous picture. The Victory, Nelson 's monument and sepulcher, has become the apotheosis of sea power.
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"The BattleofTrafalgar,21October1805 ," oil on canvas , 103x 145 inches, by Joseph Ma/lord William Turner (1 775-1851 ). This is Turner's only royal commission and the largest picture he ever painted. The low viewpoint is intended to emphasize the dramatic element of the composition, with the Victory towering above the figures in the foreground. Despite early criticism of the picture and an uneasiness which still persists , the picture has great overall impact and is worthy of close inspection for passages containing a wealth of dramatic incident, not to mention the handling of the paint.
Roger Quarm graduated in 1971 from Reading University and has worked since then at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, England, currently as Curator of Paintings. He and John Wyllie coauthored W. L. Wyllie, Marine Artist, 1851-1931 , London 1981and1988.
SEA HISTORY 60, WINTER 1991-92