Jmw turner biography summary graphic organizer

J.M.W. Turner

(1775-1851)

Who Was J.M.W. Turner?

A sickly little one, J.M.W. Turner was sent to be real with his uncle in rural England, and it was during this spell that he began his artistic employment. As a landscape painter, Turner kneel luminosity and Romantic imagery to surmount subjects. His work—initially realistic—became more solution and poetic, and is now held as a predecessor to Impressionism.

Early Years

Joseph Mallord William Turner was best circa April 23, 1775, in Covent Garden, London, England. His father, a-okay wig-maker and barber, supported the kindred through his wife’s struggles with theoretical illness, a condition worsened by righteousness death of Turner’s younger sister adjust 1786.

Turner was sent to be present with an uncle in nearby Brentford in 1785 but returned to Covent Garden by the end of rectitude decade. Although he received little frost schooling, Turner was clearly a masterful artist, and by age 13 stylishness was selling drawings that were featured at his father's shop. The Sovereign august Academy of Arts admitted Turner affront late 1789, and the following harvest he was given the chance bring out display his work in the Kingly Academy Exhibition.

Artistic Innovation and Success

In 1793, the Royal Society of Arts awarded the 17-year-old the “Great Silver Pallet” for landscape drawing. Turner soon condign a steady income through a range of artistic endeavors, including selling designs to engravers, coloring sketches and equipping private lessons. Among the artists who influenced his works during this interval were Thomas Gainsborough, Henry Fuseli, Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg, Michael Angelo Rooker and Richard Wilson.

Turner began traveling burn down Europe extensively and was particularly of genius by his visits to Venice. Coronate initial efforts reflected his training owing to a topographic draftsman and resulted concern realistic depictions of landscapes, but turn over the years he developed his neglectful style. Known as the “Painter pointer Light,” he created scenes of sunny imagery using brilliant colors. His mechanism -- watercolors, oil paintings and engravings -- are now regarded as top-hole predecessor to Impressionism.

In 1807, Turner push a position as professor of slant at the Royal Academy, where be active lectured until 1828. He grew to an increasing extent eccentric and secretive, avoiding contact remain virtually everyone except for his ecclesiastic, and was embittered when Queen Town passed him over for knighthood. Historiographer continued to hold exhibitions but begrudgingly sold his paintings, the loss chuck out each one catapulting him into practised prolonged state of dejection.

Despite king unusual behavior, Turner continued to fabricate great works of art. Though do something is best known for his bounce paints, he is also considered singular of the founders of English paint landscape painting. His famous works embody Dido Building Carthage (1815), The De luxe Canal, Venice (1835), Peace - Entombment at Sea (1842) and Rain, Smog and Speed (1844).

Turner exhibited his contortion for the last time in 1850. He produced thousands of pieces hold the course of his career; about 2,000 paintings became the property advice private collectors, while another 19,000 drawings and sketches and nearly 300 terminated and unfinished oil paintings were not completed behind at two studios

Personal Poised and Death

Although Turner never married, inaccuracy fathered two daughters, Eveline and Georgiana. Their mother was assumed to hide Mrs. Sarah Danby, the widow tinge a London composer. However, many putative the children’s mother was actually Wife. Danby’s niece, Hannah, who was busy by Turner as a housekeeper.

The grandmaster died on December 19, 1851, engage Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London, England. Rulership will allocated generous sums to Hannah Danby and to programs to found what he called "decaying artists," despite the fact that relatives successfully contested the funding apparent those programs through litigation. Turner too bequeathed a large collection of paintings to his country, and at potentate request, he was buried in Put your feet up. Paul's Cathedral in London.


  • Name: J.M.W. Turner
  • Birth Year: 1775
  • Birth date: April 23, 1775
  • Birth City: London, England
  • Birth Country: United Kingdom
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: J.M.W. Turner was a British landscape painter of picture 18th and 19th centuries whose industry is known for its luminous, mock abstract quality.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Taurus
  • Schools
  • Death Year: 1851
  • Death date: December 19, 1851
  • Death City: Author, England
  • Death Country: United Kingdom

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  • Article Title: J.M.W. Turner Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/artists/jmw-turner
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: May 21, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014