Storm at sea and shipwreck were major themes in British visual culture in the first half of the nineteenth century. Turner returned to these subjects again and again, exploring the effects of the elements and mankind's inability to control the sublime forces of nature.

This painting shows a ship in distress off the English coast. Legend has it that Turner conceived the image while lashed to the mast of a ship during a storm. While probably untrue, the story emphasises Turner's interest in conveying his personal experience of the sea.