…or as he was better known, JMW!

Welcome to the world of The Painter of Light…

 

I came late to the Turner party. When I was younger, I couldn’t see the appeal, it just all looked like a big load of swirlyness! Now I am quite a bit older, I see that it is indeed a big load of swirlyness, but executed with such genius that I cannot help be staggered and so appreciative of what he produced!

For a man who was though to be mad during his life, it is testament to how amazing he actually was that his work is held in such high regard today. He has become one of my favourite artists. It was the painting above which did it for me – I LOVE Venice and this painting encapsulates early morning perfectly and every time I see it, I am sad that I am here and not there, alongside being totally blown away at how perfectly it captures Venice!

I know Caernarfon Castle really well, as I do the town that grew up alongside it. Despite the artistic licence used here, this is still a masterful painting. Turner truly was an absolute genius at painting light…

…and dark, as in this piece, “Fishermen at Sea”.  I have never been night fishing, but this piece almost allows you to feel the sea spray and how noises would sound different in the dark. Masterful!

A beautiful painting about a sad event…the British Navy ship on her last voyage, prior to being broken up. Turner often filled the majority of his pieces with sky, which, for me, is what fills them so successfully with light. The slightly top heavy appearance they have really make the paintings work, although it probably shouldn’t.

Swirlyness at it’s extreme edge! Snowstorm is a perfect title for this painting.

This is such a beautiful painting…hard to believe it is a painting really, it has such realism and sense of place. “Westminster Sunset” delivers exactly what it promises. The fiery heart of the painting is so realistic, contrasting beautifully with the slightly misty and mysterious quality that the rest of the image has.

Thank you, Turner.