Why it matters
A train races towards us across a bridge through a summer rainstorm. Turner was one of the few painters of his time to treat industrial progress as a worthy subject, and the painting conveys great speed in a static picture.
Did you know?
- It was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1844.
- It shows Maidenhead Railway Bridge over the Thames, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
- The view looks east towards London.
Based on the Wikipedia article Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway (CC BY-SA 4.0).
