Synopses & Reviews
One of the most popular painters of all time, J. M. W. Turner (1775andndash;1851) created a remarkable collection of sketchbooks over the course of his career. Thoughtful, revealing, and beautifully rendered, Turnerandrsquo;s sketchbooks offer an unparalleled window into his creative process. In the absence of detailed written accounts of his extensive travels, the notebooks also contain his impressions of the many places he visited across Britain and Europe. In this book, the first full survey of the artistandrsquo;ssketchbooks, readers are invited to take a privileged look over Turnerandrsquo;s shoulder, witnessing the creation and development of ideas that can be traced through to his major paintings. Beginning with his teenage efforts and culminating in the atmospheric color studies of his last years, Turnerandrsquo;s Sketchbooks is a unique opportunity to explore the mind of a beloved artist.
Synopsis
J.M.W. Turner (1775and#8211;1851) was a controversial figure in his day, but is now widely regarded as one of the greatest landscape painters in history, creating compelling and atmospheric works in oil and watercolor. Commonly known as and#8220;the painter of light,and#8221; he was also a skilled printmaker, and his work is regarded as a preface to Impressionism. Drawing mainly on Tateand#8217;s unparalleled collection, this lavishly illustrated book provides a general survey of Turner. Accompanying a major touring exhibition in Australia and Japan, the book considers his work in relation to colonial art of the time, addresses the importance of the print market, and discusses his methods and materials. With essays from key academics and a detailed biography, this is a welcome addition to the literature on this great artist.
About the Author
Ian Warrell is an independent curator specializing in British art of the nineteenth century. He was a curator at Tate for more than 25 years and is the leading authority on the life and work of Turner.