Dimensions: support: 765 x 1064 mm frame: 970 x 1260 x 110 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: This is Peter Monamy's "Ships in Distress in a Storm," currently at the Tate. The turbulent sea really captures a sense of dramatic struggle. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Monamy's piece reflects Britain's growing maritime power in the 18th century. These dramatic seascapes weren't just about aesthetics; they visualized Britain's dominance and the very real dangers faced in asserting that power. How might the depiction of the storm itself contribute to this message? Editor: It amplifies the risk, making the ships' survival seem all the more heroic, I suppose. A bit of propaganda through art? Curator: Exactly! Consider the role of institutions like the Navy in commissioning and displaying such works. The image serves a purpose beyond mere decoration. It subtly reinforces the social and political order. Editor: That’s a great point, the painting isn't just about the sea, but about power and its representation. Curator: Precisely. It highlights how art serves broader social and political functions.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/monamy-ships-in-distress-in-a-storm-t00807
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Peter Monamy was born in London, though his family were originally from the Channel Island of Guernsey and probably of Huguenot (French Protestant) ancestry. He was the first English-born marine painter of note, the genre having been brought to Britain by Dutch artists in the late 17th century. This scene of a storm at sea follows the Dutch tradition of such pictures. Although disaster seems inevitable, the clearing blue sky offers hope. It does not necessarily relate to an actual event, though for contemporary viewers it may have brought to mind the ‘Great Storm’ of 1703 which wrecked many ships at sea. Gallery label, February 2016
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