*Framed Hand-Coloured Steel Engraved Print, The Fighting Temeraire, J.M.W. Turner, R.A. Pinx, Engraved by J. T. Willmore, Sculpt.*
Approximate Framed Dimensions: 40cm x 36.1cm, print excluding mount 26.5cm x 21.5cm
Turner, William Joseph Mallord (1775-1851) “The Fighting Temeraire” , engraved by James Tibbetts Willmore in 1859.
Signed lower left and right “J.M.W. Turner, R.A. Pinx”, “J.T. Willmore Sculpt”.
This hand-colored steel engraving portrays the HMS Temeraire being towed down the Thames by a small steamboat to be scrapped. Launched in 1798, the Temeraire was a symbol of British naval prowess—180 feet long, built from English oak, and armed with 98 guns. It played a key role in the Napoleonic Wars, notably at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, but by the 1830s, like many older ships, it was retired. The image captures the poignant contrast between the once-glorious warship and the modern steam tugboat, representing the shift from sail to steam power. Created by Willmore in 1859, the engraving reflects both the decline of British naval dominance and Turner’s mastery in blending beauty with symbolism, evoking themes of progress, mortality, and change.
The Turner painting was created in 1838 and is now held in the National Gallery in London.
James Tibbetts Willmore
James Tibbetts Willmore (1800–1863) was a British engraver celebrated for his exceptional etchings and engravings. Born in Birmingham, he began his career apprenticing as a copperplate printer before moving to London in 1823 to work as a freelance engraver. Willmore was renowned for his precise attention to detail and his ability to create intricate, beautiful engravings, especially of landscapes and cityscapes. He collaborated with prominent artists like J.M.W. Turner, John Constable, and William Henry Bartlett, producing engravings admired for their technical skill and aesthetic appeal. Beyond engraving, Willmore was also an accomplished watercolorist, exhibiting at the Royal Academy in London. He passed away in 1863, leaving a legacy as one of the most talented engravers of his era.
*Condition*
Good used condition. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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