The Power of the Sea

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Artists in Britain have long been fascinated by the sea, the spectacle of waves crashing on the shore, and the destructive power of the ocean. Since the early nineteenth century, the sea has been an important focus for painters relishing the challenge of working directly from nature, often in inhospitable conditions. Such work has gained a new importance reflecting current concerns about climate change and rising sea levels.Danger is a recurrent theme; Morland, Danby, Brett and Langley emphasized the human costs of shipwrecks, Turner concentrated on elemental fury, and Constable on the sea's breezy freshness. Late nineteenth century depictions seem more benign, portraying the sea as a source of leisure and health. Moore, James, and Laurence all feature.