Turner, Joseph Mallord William
Turner, John Mallord William (1775-1851). One of the
finest landscape artists 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, England, on April 23, 1775. His
father was a barber. His mother died when he was very young. The boy received
little schooling. His father taught him how to read, but this was the extent of
his education except for the study of art. 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 honor–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.
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. When he was persuaded to sell one, he was dejected for days.
In
1850 he exhibited for the last time. 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. Some of his most famous works are Calais
Pier, Dido Building Carthage, Rain, Steam and Speed,
Burial at Sea, and The Grand Canal, Venice.
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