Joseph M. W. Turner, The Fighting “Téméraire” Tugged to Her Last Berth to Be Broken Up (1838)
In this painting a steamer belching smoke tows a wooden sailing ship to its last berth, where it will be destroyed. Turner muses about the passing of old ways but also displays his mastery of color in the final blaze of sunset, itself another sign of the passing of time. Turner was an avid reader of the romantic poets, especially Byron. British opinion polls have rated this painting the best of all British paintings. How does the painting capture the clash of old and new? (National Gallery, London, UK / Bridgeman Images.)