Joseph Melrod William Turner

Performed by a student of the 10th grade of the Vetluzhsky school № 2 Derichev Konstantin

Teacher:

Lyoushkina Svetlana Arkadyevna

Joseph Melrod William Turner (1775-1851)

William Turner was born on April 23, 1775 in Covent Garden, London, England. He was an English Romantic landscape painter, one of the greatest water colourist of British and also he is known as «the painter of light».

Birthplace of William Turner

(Covent Garden)

By nature, William Turner was awkward,short-tempered and often difficult to deal with. People attending his lectures had little idea of what he w as saying.

«Bell Rock Lighthouse», 1819

  «The Rise of the Carthaginian Empire», 1815

Joseph Turner (1745-1829)

His family consisted of his father Joseph Turner, who was a barber and wig maker, his mother Mary Marshall, who came from a family of butchers and the younger sister.

After a difficult happening in his family in 1785 young Turner was sent to stay with his uncle in a small town on the banks of the River Thames. Here he first expressed an interest in painting and had created many drawings, which his father exhibited in his shop window.

At the age of 14 Turner began working as a draftsman for an architect. So, architectural views appeared in his works throughout his life.

«Welsh Bridge at Shrewsbury»

Bristol Cathedral from College Green»

The Royal Academy of Art School

The next year he was accepted into the Royal Academy of Art School. Turner was a talented child and his water color painting first was exhibited there at the age of 15.

After the Royal Academy’s exhibition William Turner travelled widely in Europe in search of subjects. Turner started with France and studied in the Louvre. He also made many visits to Italy, Germany and Switzerland.

«Landscape with Trees and Figures», 1796

William Turner exhibited his first oil painting in 1796, its name is «Fishermen at sea».

«In the valley near Vietri»

Turner was an eccentric figure throughout his career. He had few close friends. His father lived with him for thirty years, worked as his studio assistant, was his true companion and admirer of his works.

He became more pessimistic and very private as he got older. After his father's death his gallery fell into desolation. He lived in near poverty and in poor health from 1845.

«Eruption of Vesuvius», 1817

William Turner died in Chelsea on December 19, 1851. His last words were "The sun is God". At his request he was buried in St Paul's Cathedral. His last exhibition at the Royal Academy was in 1850.

Tombstone of William Turner

Monument to William Turner

«Light and colour», 1843

William Turner left behind over 2,000 paintings and 19,000 drawings and sketches. His subjects for painting were shipwrecks, natural phenomena such as storm, rain, and fog. He was fascinated by the violent power of the sea.

Tate Britain is home to the largest collection of works by Joseph Mallord William Turner. A master of history, landscape and marine painting, he challenged the style of the old masters, the technique and subject matter.

«Father of modern art» often shocked his contemporaries with his loose brushwork and vibrant colour palette while portraying the development of the modern world unlike any other artist at the time.

Thank you for your attention!

«Snow Storm: Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps», 1812