Joseph Mallord William Turner produced approximately 550 oil paintings and over 2,000 watercolours throughout his career as an English Romantic painter. A student at the Royal Academy of Arts by age 14, he rapidly achieved financial success and academic recognition. He died in 1851 at the age of 76, bequeathing a vast collection of his artistic work to the nation.
Professional Rise
Turner entered the Royal Academy of Arts as a student at age 14. He exhibited his first work in the Annual Exhibition at 15 and earned recognition as a master watercolourist by age 18. His ascent through the academic establishment was rapid; at age 27, he was elected as a Royal Academician, marking him as one of the youngest artists to receive the distinction. Despite his early fame, he faced criticism throughout his career regarding his social background.
Stylistic Evolution
Early in his career, Turner adopted the techniques of old masters to secure institutional validation. As he achieved financial stability, his style transitioned toward an experimental approach focused on light, water, and atmospheric conditions. He frequently used vortex compositions in his later works, which departed significantly from contemporary classicist conventions. These later paintings, while controversial during his life, later influenced the development of Impressionism.
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Beyond painting, Turner was an expert printmaker who mastered mezzotint techniques. He dedicated 12 years to the creation of the Liber Studiorum, a collection consisting of 71 prints intended to elevate the status of landscape painting. His creative output was heavily informed by extensive international travel, which included periods spent in Belgium, Berlin, Zurich, London, Paris, Rome, Lyon, and Turin.
Legacy and Estate
Upon his death in 1851 at Cheyne Walk, Turner left a significant estate valued at £140,000, which included substantial government funds. His bequest to the nation comprised over 100 finished oil paintings, alongside thousands of sketches and watercolours. He is buried in St Paul's Cathedral. Much of his oil painting collection is currently housed at the Tate Britain museum.
Fast facts
- Born: 1775, Maiden Lane
- Died: 1851, Cheyne Walk
- Education: Royal Academy of Arts
- Movement: Romanticism
- Major Works: The Slave Ship, The Fighting Temeraire, The Battle of Trafalgar
- Burial Site: St Paul's Cathedral
- Total Oil Paintings Produced: Approximately 550
Questions readers ask
What artistic movement is Turner associated with?
Turner is categorized as a prominent figure in the Romanticism movement.
Where can Turner's work be viewed today?
The majority of his oil paintings are kept at the Tate Britain museum in London.
Did Turner receive recognition during his lifetime?
Yes, he was a successful and wealthy artist who was elected a Royal Academician at age 27.
Achievements
- Notable work: The Fighting Temeraire
- Notable work: Fishermen at Sea
- Notable work: The Battle of Trafalgar
- Notable work: Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway
- Movement: Romanticism and English painting
