But so great was his previous mastery of the paler shades, that a few touches of brilliant colour could set his whole canvas aflame.

Even in the 'Temeraire,' the sunset occupies less than half the picture.

The cold colours of night have already fallen on the ship, and there remains but a touch of red from the smoke of the tug.
As Venice enriched his vision of colour, Rome stimulated him to paint new subjects suggested by ancient history and mythology.

He knew little of Roman history or classical literature, yet enough to kindle his imagination; witness his 'Rise and Fall of the Carthaginian Empire' in the National Gallery.

In these the figures are of no importance.
The pictures still are landscapes, but freed from the necessity of being like any particular place.