Major Money Adrift in the North Sea 1800 - 1825

William P. Sherlock created this print depicting "The Perilous Situation of Major Money" using etching and engraving, a process that allows for fine, linear detail. The composition is dominated by diagonals—the angle of the deflating balloon contrasting with the man reaching upwards. Note how the lines of the balloon's ropes draw the eye to Major Money. Sherlock uses cool tones for the sea and sky, creating a sense of vastness and danger. The texture of the water is depicted with short, repetitive lines, giving it a sense of movement and turbulence. The print raises questions about the sublime and man's relationship to nature and technology. The balloon, a symbol of human ambition, is now a fallen object, humbled by the sea. The work challenges our understanding of progress and the potential for nature to destabilize human achievements.