UNITED KINGDOM – London, National Gallery // Skyfall (2012)
Turners “Fighting Temeraire” is just a “bloody big ship” to James Bond. And yet so much more, when you look closely – and consider the ending of “Skyfall”.
Why Bond was here
In Skyfall, James Bond (Daniel Craig) hunts former MI6-agent Silva (Javier Bardem). Before the mission, he is introduced to a new, witty Quartermaster (Ben Whishaw). Both meet for the first time at the National Gallery in front of the famous Turner painting “The Fighting Temeraire”. The scene sets the tone between the veteran Bond and the newcomer Q – and is the starting point to their friendship.
How you gonna get there
The National Gallery London is directly at the northern end of iconic Trafalgar Square. In the movie, Bond walks along the fountain with the lion statues and up the stairs towards the museum.
Closest tube station for Trafalgar Square is “Charing Cross Station”. You can reach it with multiple subway lines such as Circle and District (find out more at the London Transport Site).
“The Fighting Temeraire” by Joseph Mallord William Turner is currently in room 34 at the National Gallery. Check here at their website for the exact location when you visit.
The “Fighting Temeraire” at the National Gallery, London
Why “The Fighting Temeraire”?
Paintings, especially the ones with nautical references, always played a subtle part in Bond movies. But Turners “Temeraire” is special. The oil painting is one of the most famous works by Turner. It depicts one of the last war ships that played a major role in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Now it is being towed in to be scrapped. In the movie, it symbolizes the turning tides of secret intelligence – and how a stubborn Bond survives all changes. The small dialogue between Bond and Q in front of the painting outlines that perfectly:
- Q: “It always makes me feel a little melancholy. Grand old war ship, being ignominiously hauled away to scrap… The inevitability of time, don’t you think? What do you see?”
- James Bond: “A bloody big ship.”
Bond and M at the office
Skyfall even takes a deeper nod to the ship in the final scene. When, after the fight against Silva, the new M (Ralph Fiennes) welcomes Bond back at the office. In the background is a painting, possibly by Thomas Buttersworth. It shows the warship “Victory” fighting at Trafalgar – and the “Temeraire” alongside. Now “in its youthful heyday, rejuvinated, reborn, back in the thick of the action, literally right behind British Victory”, as artist Judith I. Bridgland points out on her excellent blog.
Good to know
You will notice that the actual location and the scenes in the movie don’t quite fit. The benches aren’t the same and the pictures are hanging in a different order. For the purpose of filming, “The Fighting Temeraire” must have been moved to a more center location. In reality the painting is directly next to the door.
Make sure to take your time for the National Gallery, as “The Fighting Temeraire” is not the only picture of importance. The museum offers a vast collection of famous art pieces. But after your tour, make sure to have some time left for more James Bond locations. Because central London is full of spy spots.
These are some nearby James Bond locations:
- The “Hildebrand Safe House” from Spectre
- The War Office Building at Whitehall from numerous movies
- The Skyfall scenes from the Westminster chase
- And the Embankment Station from the same movie
As art lovers we really enjoyed roaming the National Gallery. The museums collection includes some famous works by Jan van Eyck like his “Arnolfini Portrait” and other world class paintings like “Supper at Emmaus” from Caravaggio and the famous “Self-Portrait at the Age of 34” by Rembrandt.
© 2012 Sony Pictures, Danjaq LLC and United Artists Corporation (1), Turner Bequest, 1856 (2), Huntingbond (3)