Field Notes
Many of Turner's seascapes depict shipping within them and, often, encompassed by powerful sea and sky. I think Turner wanted to emphasise the natural world's heroic grandeur as the dominant force over man who sought to harness the wind and tides in feeble vessels at the mercy of nature. When this little yacht appeared at dawn beneath a huge, imposing skyscape I felt Turner's influence and identified with how he saw the relationship between man, sea and sky. Much has changed since Turner's time and humanity is now pretty much in control of nature's destiny across our planet, but the wind and tides are still beyond us. I find that somehwhat reassuring.