The Bombardment of Sveaborg, 9 August 1855 1855

John Wilson Carmichael painted "The Bombardment of Sveaborg, 9 August 1855" to commemorate Britain's participation in the Crimean War. But what does the image tell us about British society and culture at this time? The Crimean War was in part an effort to check Russian expansion. Carmichael's painting would appeal to those keen to see Britain assert its power on the world stage. Note the artist’s attention to the ships, the most technologically advanced of their day, and the neat rows of sailors, all of which speak to Britain’s industrial and military might. The smoke of the bombardment is rendered with a sublime beauty, making war seem glorious, rather than terrible. The painting could be interpreted as an attempt to shape public opinion about the war and the institutions of state. Historical sources, such as newspaper reports and government documents, might reveal more about the politics of representing war at this time. In looking closely at the art of the past we can learn much about the beliefs and values of those societies.