Joseph Mallord William Turner: An enduring legacy
Learn about Turner's artistic influences and the Gallery's largest bequest of art
Rain, Steam, and Speed - The Great Western Railway (1844) by Joseph Mallord William TurnerThe National Gallery, London
One of the leading British artists of his time, and perhaps the best-loved English Romantic painter, Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775 - 1851) is renowned for his remarkable artistic range and revolutionary painting style.
A child prodigy, Turner began his formal training at the Royal Academy schools in 1789 - aged just 14 years old. The following year he exhibited his first watercolour at the Royal Academy, and in 1796 he submitted his first oil painting for exhibition.
In a movement away from the popular history paintings of his era, Turner challenged the boundaries of traditional academic art, placing significant importance on elevating the status of landscape painting.
The Fighting Temeraire tugged to her last berth to be broken up, 1838 (1839) by Joseph Mallord William TurnerThe National Gallery, London
Turner enjoyed great success as a landscape artist during his lifetime and is perhaps most widely recognised today for his charged seascapes – from 'The Fighting Temeraire' (shown here) to his earlier marine pictures depicting ships at the mercy of turbulent seas and storms.
These are some examples of Turner's early marine pictures - including 'Calais Pier' (shown on the right) which is in the National Gallery collection.
Sun rising through Vapour: Fishermen cleaning and selling Fish (before 1807) by Joseph Mallord William TurnerThe National Gallery, London
Painted before 1807, Turner's 'Sun Rising through Vapour' was a stark departure from the wild storms of his earlier marine paintings. Instead of combining dramatic action with his usual dynamic handling of paint, Turner instead creates a tranquil study of a 'calm' (a smooth sea).
Dutch Ships in a Calm (about 1660) by Willem van de VeldeThe National Gallery, London
Dutch marine paintings of the 17th century
A ‘calm’ was a popular subject in Dutch marine painting and Turner was greatly influenced by the work of 17th-century Dutch artists like Willem van de Velde, whose 'Dutch Ships in a Calm', painted about 1660, is pictured here.
Sun rising through Vapour: Fishermen cleaning and selling Fish (before 1807) by Joseph Mallord William TurnerThe National Gallery, London
Some of the figures in Turner’s painting also resemble those painted by the Flemish artist David Teniers the Younger, specifically the hunched figure wearing a red Flemish cap. Such details imply that Turner may have intended to suggest a Dutch setting for this painting.
The bustling action of the fishermen at work also contrasts with the eerily still seascape beyond. The way in which the sunlight reflects off the glassy sea creates an almost ghost-like, silvery sheen cast against the glowing, golden skyline.
The emphatic focus on the sun as the source of light is a feature of several of Turner’s compositions and he is sometimes referred to as ‘the painter of light’.
Artistic dialogues - Turner & Claude
Another artist who greatly influenced Turner throughout his career, and who also experimented with the treatment of light, is the 17th century French artist Claude (1604/5? - 1682).
Claude exerted considerable influence on landscape artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. Artists, like Turner, drew direct inspiration from the rich colour palette, mastery of light and grand compositions which encapsulated Claude's Italianate landscapes.
Sun rising through Vapour: Fishermen cleaning and selling Fish (before 1807) by Joseph Mallord William TurnerThe National Gallery, London
Turner & Claude in the National Gallery
In his second will, dated 1831, Turner specified that two of his works, 'Sun Rising through Vapour' and ‘Dido building Cartage’, should hang forever in the newly constructed National Gallery building.
These paintings were to sit alongside two works by Claude - establishing an enduring link between these two artists...
The two paintings by Claude were specified in Turner’s request as the 'Landscape with the Marriage of Isaac and Rebecca' and 'Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba' (pictured on the lower row above). By linking these paintings together Turner was ensuring that his association with Claude has a lasting legacy, and that the artistic dialogue between these works, would continue beyond his lifetime.
Sun rising through Vapour: Fishermen cleaning and selling Fish (before 1807) by Joseph Mallord William TurnerThe National Gallery, London
Turner retained a great affection for 'Sun Rising through Vapour'. It was bought in 1807 by Sir John Leicester, one of Turner's major patrons. When Sir John’s estate was sold upon his death in 1827, however, Turner bought the painting back and it remained with him until his death.
The Gallery's largest bequest
To this day the Turner bequest is the largest ever donation of artworks made to the National Gallery.
While most of the Turner collection can now be found at Tate Britain, the National gallery Collection contains many paintings by the artist, including Turner's beloved 'Sun Rising through Vapour'.
