This image depicts the marriage of Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais. It is, however, a fictional representation, as Napoleon and Josephine never had a religious ceremony.

The sea helps to expand the horizon of this image, increasing the territory offered to Christ by Satan, and thus increasing the potency of the temptation. The open water here creates a "stage" effect which Turner used in some of his other works: the "stage" created suggests future action. In this case, that action could be conquests on the sea.

The Battle of Lake Erie, October 10, 1813 was a major event in the War of 1812. With its many American naval victories (like the one depicted here), the war played a significant role in the development of the United States' national identity (R. Stein, Seascape 27). At least fourteen ships are engaged in battle.