Turner's Colour Sketches, 1820-34

by J.M.W. Turner (Editor), Gerald Wilkinson

These 'unfinished' watercolours were the germinating, iridescent centre from which some of Turner's best known works emerged. The Petworth Watercolour, the 'Colour Beginnings', the sketches for 'Rivers of France' and other blue-paper sketches are all famous, yet have never before been reproduced in useful quantity. Here are relevant pencil sketchbooks, carefully but entertainingly annotated, provide a chronological matrix.

The range, power, and brilliance of these watercolours will astonish even those who those who know Turner well through his oil paintings. From his return from Italy in 1820 to the 'Burning Houses of Parliament' in 1834, we see his work rise to a level equalled in the story of art. In his colour sketches Turner reaches out to precarious edges of artistic achievement.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published June 26, 1975

About the author

Joseph Mallord William Turner, RA (23 April 1775 – 19 December 1851) was an English Romantic landscape painter, water-colourist, and printmaker.

Turner was considered a controversial figure in his day, but is now regarded as the artist who elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivalling history painting.

Although renowned for his oil paintings, Turner is also one of the greatest masters of British watercolour landscape painting. He is commonly known as "the painter of light" and his work is regarded as a Romantic preface to Impressionism. Some of his works are cited as examples of abstract art prior to its recognition in the early twentieth century.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on Turner's sketches -- watercolors, pen & ink -- just beautiful. Plus finished works. Turner's watercolor drawings are truly abstract. (Library book.)