| Many people in Britain are familiar with Joseph Mallord | | | | greatest zeal. At the very same minute the |
| William Turner's magical painting of the Fighting | | | | mainmast fell on board the Redoubtable. The entire |
| Temeraire, but what's the story behind Britain's | | | | stern was absolutely stove-in, rudder-stock, tiller, and |
| favourite painting?The Fighting Temeraire or "The | | | | two tiller-sweeps, sternpost, wing transoms, and |
| Fighting Temeraire, tugged to her Last Berth to be | | | | transom knees were in general shot to pieces."The |
| broken up" (to give it's full name) hangs in the | | | | ships behind Victory engaged the Franco-Spanish |
| National Gallery in London and continues to wow | | | | fleet as they came through. A musket shot from the |
| visitors.It depicts a glorious sunset, through which sails | | | | Redoubtable hit Nelson and knocked him down, |
| a squat, dark tug boat, pulling a pale and almost | | | | breaking his back: he was taken below and missed |
| ghostly sailing ship, "The Fighting Temeraire" behind | | | | the battle as it climaxed towards British victory, |
| it.The 98-gun Temeraire was one of the key ships | | | | although he was kept informed at all times. The |
| that took part in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. | | | | Temeraire continued to fight the Redoutable and |
| Britain was bracing itself against the possibility of | | | | managed to smash the French ship Fougueux in the |
| invasion by Napoleon. Napoleon had succeeded in | | | | process. The tactic of piercing the Franco-Spanish line |
| bringing together fleets from France and Spain, in | | | | was successful, and during the storm which blew up |
| order to ravage British interests. The Battle of | | | | later that day, many of the crippled vessels were |
| Trafalgar was to sow the seeds of British colonial | | | | finally destroyed. Nelson died in the course of the |
| power for many years, as well as decisively | | | | battle, and was given a state funeral.Thus the |
| destroying the Napoleonic threat.Admiral Lord Nelson | | | | Temeraire acquired its legendary place in British naval |
| was the genius commander behind the British tactics | | | | history. Turner wanted to make a statement about |
| in the battle: a master tactician, and already a national | | | | the passing of an age, the glorious age of sail, and it's |
| hero. The French fleet was commanded by Admiral | | | | transformation into the more mundane age of steam |
| Villeneuve. He had 33 ships, compared with the British | | | | and steel. Others of his paintings, such as Rain, |
| 22. By dawn of the 21-Oct-1805, the two fleets | | | | Steam and Speed also deal with themes of modern |
| were visible to one another. Nelson arranged his fleet | | | | technology transforming our landscapes.The scene |
| into two columns, to pierce the enemy line head on. | | | | depicted by JMW Turner occurred on 6-Sep-1838, as |
| Nelson's Victory ploughed straight through the line, | | | | the Temeraire was pulled up the Thames to the |
| taking terrible damage, before opening fire. The | | | | Beatson's ship-breaking yard at Rotherhith. However, |
| Victory smashed the French flagship the Bucentaure, | | | | the reality of the scene was slightly different. It is |
| with Admiral Villeneuve, the only man left standing on | | | | said that the Temeraire was in fact pulled by two |
| the quarter deck.Then the Victory's progress was | | | | tugs, not one, and there was no sunset according to |
| blocked by the Redoutable. The Temeraire, captained | | | | observers on the day. The composition lovingly |
| by Sir Eliab Harvey, flanked the Redoutable on the | | | | romanticises the passing of the Temeraire.In 2005 |
| other side, and the Victory and Temeraire smashed | | | | the painting was voted "Britain's favourite painting" in |
| their foes with shattering broadsides at point blank | | | | a BBC poll. Not surprisingly, this vote coincided with |
| range.Captain Jean-Jacques Lucas of the Redoubtable | | | | the 200 year anniversary of the Battle of |
| said: "It would be difficult to describe the horrible | | | | Trafalgar.Now the sunset breezes shiver |
| carnage caused by the murderous broadside. More | | | | Temeraire! Temeraire! |
| than 200 of our brave lads were killed or wounded. I | | | | And she's fading down the river. |
| was wounded at the same instant, but not so | | | | Temeraire! Temeraire! |
| seriously as to prevent me from remaining at my | | | | Now the sunset Breezes shiver |
| post ... A little later a third ship [HMS Temeraire] came | | | | And she's fading down the river, |
| up and stationed herself astern of the Redoubtable | | | | But in England's song for ever |
| and fired into us at pistol range; in less than half an | | | | She's the Fighting Temeraire. |
| hour our ship was so riddled that she seemed to be | | | | Henry Newbolt, 'The Fighting Temeraire', 1898Gordon |
| no more than a mass of wreckage. In this state the | | | | Smith is Managing Director of online art store With his |
| Temeraire hailed us to strike, and not prolong a | | | | expert knowledge of Britain's best-loved paintings he |
| useless resistance. I ordered several soldiers who | | | | is well-placed to reveal some of the back-story to |
| were near me to answer this summons with | | | | the great masterpieces. |
| musket-shots, which was performed with the | | | | |