He captured the grandeur of nature, but also the power of the machines. William Turner, born 250 years ago, was one of the greatest painters of romanticism. His portrait adorns the 20 -pound note in the United Kingdom and the most important British award for contemporary art also bears his name.

His painting is so typical and no one forgets it easily. Shiny sunsets, dark clouds, foam waves. Turner knew the game of light, color and atmosphere like no other. Inspiration for his paintings were mainly his excursions to nature and his travels. During his life, Turner traveled not only within Great Britain, but also in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy and Germany.

The Rhine and Venice

In Germany it was mainly fascinated by the Rhine River. The landscapes he painted there awakened the British’s desire for travel and made Rhineia a popular destination. However, it was particularly influenced by Venice. He visited the city three times, in 1819, 1833 and 1840. The depictions of Venice also reflect the evolution of his style. His paintings became increasingly blurry, mystical and flooded with light.

Turner used the light to create as much atmospheric works as few. The boundaries between land and sea are blurry. It is no coincidence that his paintings were called “fairy tale images” and were extremely popular. “Light is color,” Turner said in a lecture in 1818. It is even said that he was forcing visitors who went to his studio to wait in the dark before seeing his report to better understand the games of light on his paintings.

Turner was born in London on April 23, 1775 and grew up during the Industrial Revolution, which was linked to major economic and social rearrangements. He designed his first plans at the age of twelve. His father was a barber. He quickly recognized his talent and exhibited his son’s paintings for sale in his store. This was another reason why Turner’s artistic career quickly took off. At the age of 14 he entered the Royal Academy of Art in London, where he initially painted mainly watercolors. He later taught himself as a perspective professor.

Historical but also pioneering painting

However, his paintings did not only depict nature. Turner also included contemporary issues, such as great technical achievements. B.C. locomotives and steamships that fought with the forces of nature. Historical and mythical events were also part of his themes.

Turner’s late work, however, became increasingly unconventional and did not encounter much acceptance. In 1842, the Royal Academy exhibited the “snowstorm” painting, which is today one of its most famous works. It shows a steamboat fighting with the elements of nature. The technicians of the time, however, referred to “a mass of swirling soap bubbles”.

But precisely this almost abstract style for which Turner was criticized at that time, inspired later impressionists, such as Claude Monet and Camiga Pisaros. Today, Turner is considered the father of impressionism, an unconventional pioneer of modernism and perhaps even a precursor to abstract art. In any case, he was an artist far ahead of his time.

Curated by: Maria Rigoutsou