HMS 'Erebus' passing through the chain of bergs, 1842, 19th century (oil on canvas)

Creator: Admiral Richard Brydges Beechey This painting captures a dramatic scene from Rear-Admiral Sir James Clark Ross's Antarctic expedition of 1839-1843. Ross was given command of HMS 'Erebus' and HMS 'Terror' to carry out a magnetic survey in the Antarctic region. The expedition resulted in various discoveries, including the area subsequently known as the Ross Ice Barrier. The two ships collided on the March 12, 1842, which crippled the 'Erebus's' masts, the latter escaped the life-threatening gales of a storm by moving into a narrow channel in the chain of bergs. The crew could just make out the 'Terror's' light, reassuring them of their fellow sailors' safety, when they experienced the natural phenomenon of what they believed to be the Aurora australis. The appearance of the bright light marks the end of the peril and in the narrative is followed by a reference to a collective prayer.