Boats off the Coast, Storm Approaching 1830

John Sell Cotman made this watercolor, Boats off the Coast, Storm Approaching, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Looking at this image, one can easily imagine the pride with which the British viewed their navy at the time. But that pride had a dark side. Painted during the height of the Napoleonic Wars, it's difficult to see a painting of ships braving a storm without considering the role of maritime power in military conflict, the expansion of the empire, and the often brutal economics of world trade. The sailors manning these vessels came from the working classes, often press-ganged into service. The benefits of trade flowed mainly to merchants and the aristocracy. The image is more than just a pretty picture, it encapsulates the complex relationship between humans, nature and society. To further your understanding, explore archives of naval history, economic data and accounts of life at sea. By consulting a range of documentary evidence we can better appreciate the place of art in its social and institutional context.