Turner: Art & Ideas - Softcover

Venning, Barry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714839884 ISBN 13: 9780714839882

Publisher: Phaidon Press, 2003

Synopsis

In this absorbing analysis of the life and art of J M W Turner (1775-1851), Barry Venning argues that it is necessary to look at Turner's work in its original contexts in order to understand thoroughly the painter's creative decisions. His early career was dominated by the Napoleonic Wars, and on his extensive travels he witnessed far-reaching transformations in social, economic and political life. Industrialization, agrarian change and constitutional reform are all represented in his work, but he also made a lifelong study of natural forms and phenomena, all of which gave rise to paintings that are as rich in layers of meaning as they are in visual effects. Venning covers all aspects of the artist's career, concluding with a vigorously fresh look at Turner's artistic legacy.

About this title

Review

"This lively, prolifically illustrated survey illuminates the career of Britain's greatest artist in a host of ways. Deftly sketching in the political, social and artistic background to his career, Venning notes how Turner's humble origins made him far more receptive to radicalism than the country gentleman, Constable. Thackeray was telling the truth when he wrote of Rain, Steam and Speed: 'The world has never seen anything like this picture'. Mark Rothko acknowledged his debt in a joke: 'This man Turner, he learnt a lot from me'."―Independent on Saturday Magazine

"Accessible and engagingly written but with sufficient room to explore topics in some depth... Venning conveys very well indeed the visual curiosity and intellectual fizz with now associate with the artist... A successful and rounded account... The general reader, approaching Turner for the first time, will find here a lucid and persuasive narrative that renders comprehensible Turner’s sometimes bewildering achievement. Students and Turner scholars alike can likewise turn to Venning’s book not merely for its intelligent survey of Turner, but also for its fresh insights into the British art world in which he made his career, as well as valuable comments on the political and cultural context for his paintings and his posthumous reputation. The book also has the enormous merit of providing all its readers with an emphatic demonstration of why Turner matters and why new generations of artists, scholars, and art lovers are impelled to return to his art."―Sam Smiles, Turner Society Newsletter

On the Art & Ideas series

"Art & Ideas has broken new ground in making accessible authoritative views on periods, movements and concepts in art. As a series it represents a real advance in publishing."―Sir Nicholas Serota, Director, Tate London

"The format is wonderful and offers what had long been missing in academic studies: usable manuals for specific themes or periods... I am definitely not alone in welcoming Art & Ideas as a precious set of teaching tools."―Joachim Pissarro, Yale University

"Phaidon's series may prove to be the pick of the crop. It boasts expert but undogmatic texts and a wealth of illustrations."―The Sunday Telegraph

Synopsis

From humble beginnings as the son of a London barber, J.M.W Turner (1775-1851) came to dominate British landscape painting in the first half of the 19th century. Turner achieved professional success and the admiration of his peers at a young age, and gained the place in the canon of European painting that he always desired. He measured himself against the Old Masters such as Claude Lorrain, yet his work, particularly the chromatic brilliance and unconventional compositions of his late paintings, has often been viewed from the perspective of its effect on later artists such as the Impressionists and the Abstract Expressionists. In this analysis of Turner's life and art, Barry Venning argues that to understand the painter's creative decisions and the problems with which he was faced, it is important to look at Turner's work in its original context. The early part of his career was dominated by the Napoleonic Wars, and he also witnessed agrarian change, industrialization, urban growth and constitutional reform, all of which are reflected in his work. Turner travelled extensively and studied natural phenomena, creating paintings as richly textured in meaning as visual effects.

Barry Venning covers all aspects of the artist's career and concludes with a fresh look at Turner's artistic legacy.

About this edition

• Publisher: Phaidon Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0714839884
• ISBN 13: 9780714839882
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352