1812, J.M.W. Turner, Snow Storm: Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps -- Tate Britain (London)
From the museum label: Turner defied convention by hanging this work at eye level when it was first shown. Large paintings were usually hung high, but Turner wanted us to feel sucked into the chaos of the swirling snowstorm. It was likely intended as a comment on the Napoleonic Wars between Britain and France. French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is compared to ancient Carthage's leader, Hannibal, who led his army across the Alps into Italy in 218 BCE. Turner shows Hannibal riding an elephant, overwhelmed by a blizzard and his troops under attack. The theme of nature keeping human ambition in check became a favourite of Turner's.
1812, J.M.W. Turner, Snow Storm: Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps -- Tate Britain (London)
From the museum label: Turner defied convention by hanging this work at eye level when it was first shown. Large paintings were usually hung high, but Turner wanted us to feel sucked into the chaos of the swirling snowstorm. It was likely intended as a comment on the Napoleonic Wars between Britain and France. French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is compared to ancient Carthage's leader, Hannibal, who led his army across the Alps into Italy in 218 BCE. Turner shows Hannibal riding an elephant, overwhelmed by a blizzard and his troops under attack. The theme of nature keeping human ambition in check became a favourite of Turner's.