Despite its relatively 'unfinished' state this was given an inventory number immediately on entering the National Gallery in 1856, like the works exhibited in Turner's lifetime. There are three sketches of a ship on fire in the 'Fire at Sea' sketchbook, dated by Finberg c.1834 (T.B.CCLXXXII-3, 4 and 5) and the painting probably also dates from about this time; Turner's interest in fire subjects may well have been re-awakened by the burning of the Houses of Parliament in October 1834 (see No.512). It is on the large scale of 'The Shipwreck' of thirty years earlier (No.82) and displays both the continuity and the development of Turner's style. The most extraordinary thing about this picture is that the blazing ship is not actually shown, being merely an implied presence beyond the right-hand edge of the picture from which falls a rain of sparks.