- Artist
- Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
- Part of
- The Whalers Sketchbook
- Medium
- Chalk and watercolour on paper
- Dimensions
- Support: 221 × 328 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
- Reference
- D35247
Turner Bequest CCCLIII 8
Display caption
This sketch is unusual for its extensive use of chalk, a medium Turner used infrequently. It creates an atmosphere of threat and foreboding. Here, ships are engulfed by a violent storm. A sweep of black chalk has been quickly scrubbed with a wet brush to create a wall of rain. A bolt of lightening hits masts on the left. The mysterious marks in the foreground might represent coils of a ship’s rope and an anchor, or a fin.
Gallery label, October 2023
Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.
Explore
- society(15,153)
-
- transport: water(8,015)
-
- ship, sailing(1,342)