Who was J.M.W. Turner?
Artist.
Date and Place of Birth:
23rd April 1775, 21 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden,
London, England. Christened Joseph Mallord William Turner.
Family Background:
Son of a barber and Whig-maker from the provinces.
Education:
Studies under Thomas Malton. Royal Academy Schools,
London from the age of 14.
Chronology:
1790's: Joined forces
with Thomas Girtin colour washing his drawings.
1793: Awarded the
Greater Silver Palette by the Society of Arts.
1799: Elected as
an Associate of the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
1800: Publishes
some poetry which was originally intended to complement his exhibits
at the Royal Academy. He often stayed with his patron Lord Egremont
at Petworth House and lodged in many London taverns around this
period.
1802: Elected a
Member of the Royal Academy. Visits the Louvre in Paris for the
first time to see the paintings looted by Napoleon.
1804: Sets up his
own gallery in his home at Harley Street, London.
1807: Appointed
as a Professor at the Royal Academy (of Perspective).
1811: Makes a trip
to Italy and is impressed by the landscape.
1814: Helps set
up the Artist's General Benevolent Institution.
1817: Makes a tour
of Germany and the Netherlands.
1819: Revisits Italy.
1823: Commissioned
to paint "The Battle of Trafalgar" by St. James' Palace.
1825: Again makes
a tour of Germany and The Netherlands.
1831: Makes an extensive
visit to Scotland.
1832: Travels to
France and meets the famous artist Delacroix in Paris.
1834: Tours Germany.
1836: Visits Switzerland
and France.
1837: Resigns his
teaching post at the Royal Academy.
Statue of Turner in St Paul's Cathedral, London
(© Anthony Blagg)
1840: Meets the
critic John Ruskin who admires his work
greatly and who inspires him to visit Venice.
1841: Makes another
tour of Switzerland.
1844: Makes the
acquaintance of Charles Dickens and again
makes a visit to Switzerland and Germany.
1845: Becomes the
Acting President of the Royal Academy.
1846: Takes lodgings
in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London and lives out the rest of his days
as a virtual recluse under the assumed name of Admiral Booth.
1850: Exhibits for
the last time at the Royal Academy.
Marriage:
Never married.
Places of Interest:
LONDON:
Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.
Harley Street.
Cheyne Walk, Chelsea.
Sandycombe Lodge, Twickenham.
National Gallery, Trafalgar Square. (especially
"Rain Steam and Speed" and "The Fighting Temeraire").
Tate Britain, Millbank. (has a series of galleries
devoted to his work).
Date and Place of Death:
19th December 1851, Chiswick, London, England
in a lodging house.
Age at Death:
76.
Site of Grave:
Artist’s Corner, the Crypt, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Grave of J.M.W. Turner, St Pauls Cathedral
(© Anthony Blagg)
