Mr Turner’s record year should blaze a trail for British painting’s other greats

The avalanche of interest in JMW Turner is welcome – but he was not the only artist to give colour to the 18th and 19th centuries. Let’s give some others a chance

• Auction sets new record for Turner

Joseph Mallord William Turner has had one hell of a year. His exhibition at Tate Britain is a blinder. His reincarnation by Timothy Spall was hailed as a masterpiece of acting. Turner is making headlines and stirring souls. Perhaps he should get the Turner prize.

Just to confirm what a big year it has been for this painter who died in 1851, a record price has just been paid at Sotheby’s for one of his works. His 1835 oil painting Rome, from Mount Aventine was auctioned this week for £33.3m, the most ever fetched by a pre-20th century British artist.

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