Storm
Claude-Joseph Vernet was so obsessed with capturing the raw power of nature that he reportedly had himself tied to a ship's mast during a tempest just to study the waves! In this dramatic scene, you can see why—he perfectly captures the terrifying chaos of a shipwreck with dark, churning clouds and sailors desperately battling the surf. While rooted in the decorative flair of the Rococo period, Vernet’s work here pushes toward the emotional intensity that would soon define Romanticism. It’s a masterclass in making the viewer feel the spray of the salt water and the dread of the coming crash.