Under a spreading chestnut-tree (JMW Turner)

[Dirk, Moderator]

Under a spreading chestnut-tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands. 

[Chris]

Gabriel Metsu - a wild guess.

[Dirk, Moderator]

Indeed pretty wild Chris ;-)
Wrong century and wrong nationality...

[Chris]

Hmmm - must be 18th century then. How 'bout Constable?

[Dirk, Moderator]

No not Constable, but now you've got the right time period and the correct nationality...

[Chris]

a matter of elimination then - Turner?

[Dirk, Moderator]

Damn, I shouldn't have given you these hints ;-)

Yes you've got it!

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775 – 1851)


self portrait age 16


self portrait age 24

More Turners coming up in a moment ;-)

[Chris]

Well ... I know your M. O. by now so I assumed that the painting was not in the best known style of the painter. So I took a shot.

[Dirk, Moderator]

Well indeed: if I posted one of these pics, almost every member of the group would have known it instantly ;-)


1796


1797


1799


1813


1817


1817


1818


1825


1827


1829


1830


1832


1833


1834


1835


1839


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1840


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1840


1840-45


1841


1842


1846

[Ruth]

Indeed. Who else could we have turned to?

[Dirk, Moderator]

For more on Mr. Turner:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2473794/...

2014 Movie by Mike Leigh with Timothy Spall as Turner.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2473794/