During his lifetime, Joseph Mallord William Turner essayed a wide range of subjects, from landscapes—a genre that he dominated during the first half of the 19th century in Britain—to historical and modern scenes and subjects of his own invention.
A fascination with light and color characterizes his work in all media. In addition, his technical innovations, notably in watercolor, had a profound impact on subsequent artistic developments across the Channel in France, as well as in the United States. Now, for the first time in 40 years, a major retrospective of his work will be on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art beginning July 1. The exhibition J. M. W. Turner will represent the artist’s extensive iconographic range, from seascapes and topographical views to historical subjects and scenes from his imagination, according to the museum.
Born in London in 1775, Turner spent his early childhood in Covent Garden, where his father had a barber shop. At a very young age he showed talent in sketching and became a draftsman with an architect. When he was 14, Turner enrolled in London’s Royal Academy of Arts Schools and in 1802 became the youngest artist to be elected as a full Academician.
As a student, Turner studied with Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92), who was in his last years as president of the Royal Academy. Reynolds encouraged his students to study the techniques of the Old Masters. The idealized landscapes of Claude Lorrain (c.1604/5-82) served as a touchstone for Turner throughout his career.
More than half of about 140 paintings and watercolors on view will be on loan from Tate Britain, which houses the Turner Bequest, the most comprehensive collection of the artist’s work in the world. The Tate has made a special exception to allow the works from the Turner Bequest to be out of England for the duration of the U.S. tour. These will be complemented by works from other collections in Europe and North America. Bank of America is proud to be the national sponsor.
Many of the remarkable canvases are works that Turner exhibited at the Royal Academy—works that established his reputation—from his first exhibited oil, Fishermen at Sea (1796, Tate), to the luminous paintings The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16 October 1834 (1835, Philadelphia Museum of Art) and Keelmen Heaving in Coals by Moonlight (1835, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C). The iconic Snow Storm: Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps (1812, Tate) will be on view in the United States for the first time during this exhibition tour.
J. M. W. Turner will also include the artist’s “color beginnings,” or watercolor studies for subsequently developed images, along with his finished watercolors. The exhibition will be organized both thematically and chronologically, beginning with his earliest Sublime and historical landscapes and culminating with his late seascapes and light-filled canvases.
The show was organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and the Dallas Museum of Art, in association with Tate Britain, London. The exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Additional support is generously provided by Access Industries. The exhibition is also made possible in part by the Gail and Parker Gilbert Fund and The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation. Prior to its showing at the Metropolitan, J. M. W. Turner was on view at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the Dallas Museum of Art.
At the Metropolitan Museum, the exhibition is organized by Gary Tinterow, Engelhard Curator in Charge, and Kathryn Calley Galitz, Assistant Curator, Both are in the Department of Nineteenth-Century, Modern, and Contemporary Art. Exhibition design is by Michael Langley, Senior Exhibition Designer; graphics are by Barbara Weiss, Senior Graphic Designer; and lighting is by Clint Ross Coller and Richard Lichte, Senior Lighting Designers, all of the Metropolitan Museum’s Design Department.
The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue edited by Turner scholar Ian Warrell and published by the Tate, The catalogue is available in the Metropolitan Museum’s bookshops ($55 hardcover and $35 paperback). Other highlights include a Sunday at the Met lecture program; a series of gallery talks; and lectures. Other programs will also be featured on the museum’s Web site.
Related Programs: A variety of education programs has been organized to complement the exhibition. World Views: Landscapes in the Metropolitan, a week-long teacher program from July 28 through August 1, will allow participants to collaborate in creating a classroom resource to stimulate student discussion on works in the permanent collection as well as the exhibition J. M. W. Turner.
Audio Guides: An audio tour of the exhibition, part of the Metropolitan’s Audio Guide program, will be available for rental ($7, $6 for members, and $5 for children under 12). The Audio Guide program is sponsored by Bloomberg. Exhibition Organization and Catalogue.
