Dear Artist,
Depending on your point of view, he was either one of the world’s most important painters, or the original amateur. J. M. W. Turner (1775-1851) influenced many artists, particularly the impressionists. (Monet and Pissarro were knocked over by his work.) His paintings of luminous vapour have etched their way into the popular imagination.
“Norham Castle, Sunrise” c.1845
by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
One magic day years ago I stood in front of the real stuff at the Tate in London. Ever since then I’ve been wired for Turner — both the artist and the art. I always feel I owe him a visit.
He was the son of a Covent Garden barber and an “unstable mother.” Through his compulsive and legendary miserliness he rose to great wealth. A “boy wonder,” he worked in both watercolour and oil. He travelled regularly and with purpose, read widely and became a student of everything that came his way. While early elected to the Royal Academy, he avoided the politics but stayed a lifelong member. Turner spoke poorly, lectured inaudibly and socialized infrequently. At the same time he cultivated the gentry, paid little attention to critics, pushed his prices ever higher and sold most of his work from his home gallery. He sometimes included his own poems with his paintings. In his maturity he became “a painter of light” — his critics would say, “a painter of nothingness.” His subject matter, while land and seascape based, spoke deeply of the human condition, universal laws, solitude, the power of nature over man. On the cusp of the Industrial Revolution, he also tackled Classical and Biblical themes. He was a quick study. Cannily, he bought back what he thought were his better works. A shabby misfit in later life, he let his Chelsea home and his paintings deteriorate around him. He sealed his immortality by stockpiling his better works and leaving them to the Nation.
“The Burning of the Houses of Parliament” c.1834-5 watercolour and gouache on paper
by J.M.W. Turner
The old masters were Turner’s masters. At various times he worked in the style of Claude, Poussin, Rembrandt, Willem van de Velde, and others. “This made me an artist,” he said in a typical one-liner. Turner was a man who challenged himself to match and excel. To him art was a lineage and he was meant to be part of the line.
“Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbour’s Mouth”
by Joseph Mallord William Turner
Accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest 1856
Best regards,
Robert
PS: “I was introduced today to the man who beyond all doubt is the greatest of the age; greatest in every faculty of the imagination, in every branch of scenic knowledge; at once the painter and the poet of the day.” (John Ruskin) “Light is colour.” (Turner) “Art is a rum business.” (Turner)
Esoterica: Turner was noted for arriving at Academy shows on “Varnishing day” and reworking his paintings, sometimes massively, in order that they might outshine the nearby competition. It seems he had little regard for “fat over lean” or other proper conventions — he often laid fugitive glazings over earlier varnishes, which has made for a restorer’s nightmare.
This letter was originally published as “A visit with Turner” on April 23, 2004.
Download the new audio book, The Letters: Vol. 1 and 2, narrated by Dave Genn, here. Proceeds of sales contribute to the production of The Painter’s Keys.
Art is not a study of positive reality, it is the seeking for ideal truth.” (John Ruskin)
HurricaneFeatured Artist
I’m a contemporary painter who loves to travel the world over finding pictures to paint, and capture on photo…check out my website and travel with me on my blog “The Traveling Artist Blog.” http://www.meljosieart.com
10 Comments
Turners’ paintings in the Tate definitely have that “wow!” Factor when you see them. The light in them is stunning, captured by none other. Look up the “Burning of the House of Lords and Commons”, “The “Fighting Temeraire” and “Rain, Steam and Speed”, just a few of my favourite showing his creative drama and light.
Love it Sara, thank you for another great post. So inspiring.
An absolute must-see film is ‘Mr. Turner’ with the brilliant Timothy Spall in the title role. It’s faithful and authentic.
Turner at the Tate does change one’s life — the range of color, style, subject matter and the improbability of conveying ephemera like light and mist and clouds with material paint and canvas or paper truly astonishes.
I too have been to the Tate to drool over the Turner’ works. Love the William Blake room also, if they still have it, all dark inside with the watercolors in lit cases, glowing from within. The way Turner is able to paint atmosphere, water, smoke, fire fog, etc. Is so out of this world.
Handling watercolours at the Tate
The best-kept secret of the Tate Britain is their Turner Bequest.
The Prints and Drawings Rooms allow you to choose boxes of his watercolors to view in a library setting.
All you need do is call for an appointment and you look at boxes and boxes of his watercolors.
I have had the indescribable pleasure of sitting for an eight-hour day examining Turner watercolors.
And the next day, another eight hours examining watercolors of John Sell Cotman, Thomas Girtin and David Cox.
There is nothing like holding the watercolors of Turner close to you!
(from http://painterskeys.com/turner/)
On my last visit, I was very luck to engage in conversation the two curators who happened to there that day
The education and insights I received was valuable beyond imagination in understanding Turner and helping my personal journey as a watercolorist
http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain/library-archive-reading-rooms
Great post! Thank you for sharing
A great book:
If you like Turner’s work then you MUST see this award-winning film about him… Mr. Turner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn4zSR_5ioI
Thank you Lynda Pogue. It was great.