"The Slave Ship"

One of my favorite paintings in Museum of Fine Art is “The Slave Ship”, by Turner, Joseph Mallord William.

Turner depicted a cruel tragedy about the salves. You can picture the paint’s story by its full title: “Slavers throwing overboard the Dead and Dying - Typhoon coming on.” From my perspective, it is not just an art work that demonstrates the creator’s painting skills; rather it is a master piece that illustrates the artist’s humanity toward human beings and respect (fear) for nature.

It is said that “since insurance on slave-cargoes covered only those drowned at sea but not slaves who perished from brutality, disease, and the dreadful conditions on board, profit-minded captains would cast the sick and dying ones into the ocean.” As I read the descriptions for this work, my “innermost heart” was ardently aroused and deeply touched.