Turner Inspired

TheEnglishRomanticartistJosephMallordWilliamTurner(1775–1851)washailedasthe"painteroflight"forhisbrilliantlycoloredlandscapesandseascapes.HedrewmuchinfluencefromtheFrenchpainterClaudeLorrain(c.1604/5?–1682),whowasavitalforceinTurner'sartisticpracticefromhisformativeyearsuntiltheendofhisworkinglife.SogreatwasClaude'sinfluencethatTurnerstipulatedinhiswillthathisworkshangalongsideClaude'sintheNationalGallery,London.ThisbookexaminesthewaysinwhichTurnerconsistentlystrovetoconfrontClaude'sachievementandlegacy.HehadencounteredClaude'sworksinsaleroomsandinthecollectionsofhisaristocraticpatrons,andappliedwhathehadlearnedtotheBritishcountryside,producingviewsoftheThamesvalleythattransformitintoanidyllicpastoralscenereminiscentoftheRomanCampagna.Forthebalanceofhiscareer,TurnercontinuedtopithimselfagainstClaude,payinghomageevenashecontinuallysoughttogobeyondtheaccomplishmentsofhismaster.