Simon Schama's The Power of Art Episode 5: Turner

Simon Schama's The Power of Art Episode 5: Turner

J.M.W. Turner, The Slave Ship (1840). Oil on canvas. 90.8 × 122.6 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The 'Painter of light', Turner was perhaps the most important Romantic painter in England. A master of chaos and dark, raw atmospheres.

English Romantic landscape painter, watercolourist
and printmaker, whose style is said to have laid the foundation for Impressionism. he is now regarded
as the artist who elevated landscape painting to
an eminence rivaling history painting.



One of Britain's most celebrated artists, Turner showed exceptional artistic talent from an early age and entered the Royal Academy aged fourteen. His English landscapes made his name but there was a darker side to his paintings that was difficult for the critics to swallow, both in the increasingly informal use of paint
and the subject matter that was critical of the romanticised

JMW Turner, Slave Ship, detail of ship (Photo credit: profzucker)

vision of Britain in the late nineteenth century.

Turner bequeathed 300 of his paintings and 20,000 watercolours and drawings to the nation. He led a secretive private life. He never married, but had a mistress and fathered two children. He died in a temporary lodging in Chelsea, under the assumed name of Booth.

Power of Art is a BBC documentary series written and presented by Simon Schama.

JMW Turner, Slave Ship, detail with sun (Photo credit: profzucker)

JMW Turner, Slave Ship, detail with chains (Photo credit: profzucker)