The Fighting Temeraire by JMW Turner

The Fighting Temeraire by JMW Turner

Available on Prime Video, BBC Select
S1 E3: This 1838 work by JMW Turner was known as ‘my darling’ by the British artist who refused to part with it, despite being offered huge sums of money. It was also voted the British nation’s favorite painting of all time. So what makes this picture of a ship from the Battle of Trafalgar being towed to the breaker’s yard such a potent image and what role did it play in the painter’s life?