biography
| name: |
Turner, J(oseph) M(allord) W(illiam)
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1775–1851)
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| biography:
| Landscape artist and watercolourist, born in London, UK. After little formal education, he entered the Royal Academy at 14, and soon began to exhibit. He travelled widely in Britain, making architectural drawings in the cathedral cities, and spent three years in collaboration with Girtin producing watercolours. He then took to oils, his early works including ‘Frosty Morning’ (1813) and ‘Crossing the Brook’ (1815). After his first visit to Italy (1819), his work showed several literary influences, as in ‘Ulysses Deriding Polyphemus’ (1829). His second visit (1829) marks the beginning of his last great artistic period, including ‘The Fighting Téméraire’ (1839) and ‘Rain, Steam and Speed’ (1844, Tate, London). His revolution in art foreshadowed Impressionism, and found a timely champion in John Ruskin, whose writing helped to turn the critical tide in Turner's favour. Turner bequeathed 300 of his paintings and 20 000 watercolours and drawings to the nation. He led a secretive private life, never married, and died in a temporary lodging in Chelsea, under the assumed name of Booth. |
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