J.M.W Turner- Understanding Modern Art

J.M.W. Turner, England's premier landscape painter captured the beauty and power of the natural world in his magnificent colorful and tumultuous paintings. Inspired by the Romantic movement and gifted with great natural ability, Turner would become a cornerstone of inspiration for modern art as his forward looking painting reflect the changes he lived though and the advent of the modern world

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Link to Tom Keating on Turner-    • Tom Keating On Painters - E01 - Turner  

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In 1832 on the eve of the Royal academies summer exhibition artists from all over England gathered in London for the tradition of varnishing day, an event where artists could add finishing touches to their works, see who the jury had given the best spots too and conversely whose work they had slighted by hanging it in the men's room. Among those present that year (and most years for that matter) was J.M.W. Turner, England's preeminent landscape painter.

Turner, a long time member of the academy who had on this occasion submitted a cool grey seascape was of course guaranteed a good spot, but he was perhaps irked to find his work was hung right beside a particularly beautiful piece The Opening of Waterloo Bridge by John Constable. Constable, another well regarded painter of the time was also present, busy applying small flecks of vermilion to his scene, the fresh paint adding luminosity to his careful work.

In contrast to Constables vibrant effort, Turners own work seemed to pale, but rather than taking it in good nature, congratulating Constable on his success or generally reacting as a normal human being would in such circumstances Turner left the room. He returned minutes later with a palate and a daub of red paint, which using his thumb he began to smear onto the surface of his seascape. Working quickly and delicately he shaped the lumpen carmine blob and upon his satisfaction declared it to be a Buoy, which it seems was just what the painting needed. The contrasting red lifted the grays of Turners sea, shifting its delicate colour balance and making it pop.

So the story goes the room erupted into applause for Turner, eliciting declarations of his genius from those present, with the possible exception of Constable who probably had some other words to describe Turner in mind. This story tells us some interesting things about Turner both as a painter and as a man. For one thing social etiquette and good sportsmanship seemingly meant very little to him. For another it shows us that when it came to painting he was indeed a genius.

Turners instantly recognizable works are often far beyond his times in their methods and execution and his atmospheric use of colour would inspire many who came after him, from the French Impressionists to the Abstract Expressionists of 1950's America. As a painter he is perhaps one of the most influential figures in art history and his at times shockingly prescient works make him another good candidate for being the father of modern art, or at the very least a distant uncle. So today let's take a look at the life, times and works of JMW Turner to see the impact of his paintings and their many connections to the development of modern art.