after Joseph Mallord William Turner

Peace - Burial of Wilkie, engraved by J. Cousen

published 1859–61

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment
Artist
After Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
Medium
Engraving on paper
Dimensions
None
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Transferred from the British Museum 1988
Reference
T06362

Display caption

This image shows the funeral of Turner’s old friend and colleague, the painter Sir David Wilkie. Wilkie had died on board ship while returning from the Middle East in 1841, and was buried at sea off Gibraltar.

With its dominant blackness, the image is presented as a profound meditation on the universal theme of death. However, it also includes a modern paddle steamer billowing smoke in the centre. Turner’s ability to bring together the contemporary and the apparently universal was one of his great strengths.

Gallery label, February 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

You might like

Left Right
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘A Fire at Sea, engraved by J. Cousen’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner A Fire at Sea, engraved by J. Cousen

published 1859–61
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘A Fire at Sea, engraved by J. Cousen’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner A Fire at Sea, engraved by J. Cousen

published 1859–61
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Bacchus and Ariadne, engraved by C. Cousen’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner Bacchus and Ariadne, engraved by C. Cousen

published 1859–61
Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Peace - Burial at Sea’ exhibited 1842

Joseph Mallord William Turner Peace - Burial at Sea

exhibited 1842
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The Loretto Necklace, engraved by C. Cousen’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner The Loretto Necklace, engraved by C. Cousen

published 1859–61
View by appointment
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The Fighting Téméraire, engraved by Willmore’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner The Fighting Téméraire, engraved by Willmore

published 1859–61
View by appointment
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Fishing Boats: a Coast Scene, engraved by J. Cousen’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner Fishing Boats: a Coast Scene, engraved by J. Cousen

published 1859–61
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The Parting of Hero and Leander, engraved by S. Bradshaw’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner The Parting of Hero and Leander, engraved by S. Bradshaw

published 1859–61
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The Battle of Trafalgar, engraved by W. Miller’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner The Battle of Trafalgar, engraved by W. Miller

published 1859–61
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Ulysses Deriding Polyphemus, engraved by E. Goodall’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner Ulysses Deriding Polyphemus, engraved by E. Goodall

published 1859–61
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Mantes, engraved by W. Radclyffe’ published 1835

After Joseph Mallord William Turner Mantes, engraved by W. Radclyffe

published 1835
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘The Prince of Orange Landing at Torbay, engraved by W. Miller’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner The Prince of Orange Landing at Torbay, engraved by W. Miller

published 1859–61
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Sidon, engraved by E. Finden’ published 1835–6

After Joseph Mallord William Turner Sidon, engraved by E. Finden

published 1835–6
View by appointment
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Ehrenbreitstein, engraved by J. Cousen’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner Ehrenbreitstein, engraved by J. Cousen

published 1859–61
after Joseph Mallord William Turner, ‘Calais Pier, engraved by J. Cousen’ published 1859–61

After Joseph Mallord William Turner Calais Pier, engraved by J. Cousen

published 1859–61
View by appointment

In the shop

Browse the shop