Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851)

One of the finest English landscape artists of the first half of the 19^th century was J.M.W. Turner, whose work was exhibited when he was still a teenager. His entire life was devoted to his art. Unlike many artists of his era, he was successful throughout his career.

Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in London on April 23, 1775. His father was a barber. His mother died when he was very young. The boy received little schooling. By the age of 13 he was making drawings at home and exhibiting them in his father's shop window for sale.

Turner was 15 years old when he received a rare honour--one of his paintings was exhibited at the Royal Academy. By the time he was 18 he had his own studio. Before he was 20 print sellers were eagerly buying his drawings for reproduction.

He quickly achieved a fine reputation and was elected an associate of the Royal Academy. In 1802, when he was only 27, Turner became a full member. He then began traveling widely in Europe.

Venice was the inspiration of some of Turner's finest work. Wherever he visited he studied the effects of sea and sky in every kind of weather. His early training had been as a topographic draftsman. With the years, however, he developed a painting technique all his own. Instead of merely recording factually what he saw, Turner translated scenes into a light-filled expression of his own romantic feelings.

In his paintings Turner was able to reproduce the most fleeting effects of light – sun rises, passing storms, dissolving mists, none of which had ever been set on canvas before.

During his whole life Turner was perfecting an entirely new approach to painting which was only recognized in our time. Briefly, it consisted in transforming everything into pure colour, light rendered as colour, feelings about life rendered as colour. It’s quite difficult for us to realise what a revolutionary procedure this was. One must remember that for centuries objects were thought to be real because they were solid. And all respectable art aimed at defining this solidity, either by modelling or by a firm outline.

Turner said, “I feel therefore I am”. He used his optical sensations to convey a total sense of truth to nature.

Sky in Turner’s pictures often has a symbolic meaning. In his work clouds the colour of blood became symbols of destruction. He identified skies of peace and skies of discord. He was particularly fascinated by the line where the sky and the sea join each other, that mingling of the opposite elements.

Turner’s attitude to nature was Byronic in spirit. Turner’s receptivity to nature’s moods made him able to capture moments of extreme dramatism and utter tranquility.

As he grew older Turner became an eccentric. Except for his father, with whom he lived for 30 years, he had no close friends. He allowed no one to watch him while he painted. He gave up attending the meetings of the academy. None of his acquaintances saw him for months at a time. Turner continued to travel but always alone. He still held exhibitions, but he usually refused to sell his paintings.

One day Turner disappeared from his house. His housekeeper, after a search of many months, found him hiding in a house in Chelsea. He had been ill for a long time. He died the following day--Dec. 19, 1851.

Turner left a large fortune that he hoped would be used to support what he called "decaying artists." His collection of paintings was bequeathed to his country. At his request he was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.

Although known for his oils, Turner is regarded as one of the founders of English watercolor landscape painting.

Turner anticipated something of the method and techniques of the French Impressionists who followed his work a generation later.

Some of his most famous works are Calais Pier, Dido Building Carthage, Rain, Steam and Speed, Burial at Sea, and The Grand Canal, Venice.

How do you understand the following lines from the text?

Instead of merely recording factually what he saw, Turner translated scenes into a light-filled expression of his own romantic feelings.

In his paintings Turner was able to reproduce the most fleeting effects of light.

Turner was perfecting an entirely new approach to painting which consisted in transforming everything into pure colour, light rendered as colour, feelings about life rendered as colour.

He used his optical sensations to convey a total sense of truth to nature.

Sky in Turner’s pictures often has a symbolic meaning.

Turner’s attitude to nature was Byronic in spirit.

Turner anticipated something of the method and techniques of the French Impressionists who followed his work a generation later.

Speak on the following:

Turner’s artistic career.

Turner’s original approach to painting.

Turner’s attitude to nature.

Sky in Turner’s pictures.

Turner’s contribution to painting.

Describe some reproductions of paintings by J.Constable and J.M.W.Turner. Bear in mind their artistic principles and charasteristic techniques.While describing a picture, speak about its genre, subject, composition, colour scheme, technique used by the artist, your impression. Use proper vocabulary.