Slave Ship


Slave Ship (Slavers Throwing Overboard the Dead and Dying, Typhoon Coming On). Joseph
Mallord William Turner. 1840 C.E. Oil on canvas. Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
  • Oranges, Reds; Sunsets characteristic of the artist. 
  • Thick sensuality of the paint. Foot, leg; shackles and chains; horror. 
  • Carnage; no longer about a sunset/seascape; Ship carrying slaves. 
  • Typhoon; Captain decided to throw the slaves overboard. 
  • Swirl of waves and colors; mixture of beauty/power of nature; the punishment wreaked by nature is justified on that ship
  • American slavery ends in Civil War; Whites, blues, purples, greys; based upon a poem.
  • Emotional use of color; rapid brushstrokes; bloody sunset; dramatic impact
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