Old Téméraire c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Old Téméraire" by James Tibbits Willmore, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It evokes a sense of melancholy and the passage of time, don't you think? What symbols or meanings resonate with you most strongly in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful allegory of progress and memory. The old warship Téméraire, a veteran of Trafalgar, is towed by a steam tug. The symbolism is potent: the aged, majestic past yielding to the new, industrial age. Editor: So, it’s a contrast between old and new? Curator: Precisely. The setting sun may symbolize closure, with the moon and water adding to the sense of reflection, hinting at the end of an era. Editor: I see. It's like the image itself is a memory. Curator: Exactly!