J.M.W. Turner: References & Edit History
More Articles On This Topic
Additional Reading
A.J. Fingerg, The Life of J.M.W. Turner, R.A., 2nd ed., rev. (1961), is still the standard life but lacks documentation and excludes references to Turnerās personal life. Jack Lindsay, J.M.W. Turner: His Life and Work (1966; reissued 1971), approaches Turner the man, although it overstresses sociological, political, and psychological aspects. Fuller and more balanced accounts appear in James Hamilton, Turner: A Life (1997); and Anthony Bailey, Standing in the Sun: A Life of J.M.W. Turner (1997). Surveys of Turnerās work include Lawrence Gowing, Turner: Imagination and Reality (1966), an exhibition catalog emphasizing the more modern aspect of Turnerās later style; and Andrew Wilton, The Life and Work of J.M.W. Turner (1979), which includes a catalog of the watercolours outside the Turner Bequest, and Turner in his Time (1987), which includes particularly useful chronologies. More interpretive catalogs, which perhaps overemphasize the intellectual content of Turnerās works, are John Gage, Color in Turner: Poetry and Truth (1969), and J.M.W. Turner: A Wonderful Range of Mind (1987; reissued 1991); Eric Shanes, Turnerās Human Landscape (1990); and Gerald Finley, Angel in the Sun (1999). A complete catalog of Turnerās oil paintings is Martin Butlin and Evelyn Joll, The Paintings of J.M.W. Turner, rev. ed., 2 vol. (1984). Turnerās drawings are reproduced and discussed in Gerald Wilkinson, Turnerās Early Sketchbooks (1972), for the years 1789ā1802, Turner Sketches, 1802ā20 (1974), and Turnerās Colour Sketches, 1820ā34 (1975). His engravings are discussed in Luke Herrmann, Turner Prints (1990). Turnerās travels are covered in John Russell and Andrew Wilton, Turner in Switzerland (1976); Cecilia Powell, Turner in the South: Rome, Naples, Florence (1987); and David Hill, In Turnerās Footsteps: Through the Hills and Dales of Northern England (1984; reissued 1993), Turner in the Alps (1991), Turner on the Thames: River Journeys in the Year 1805 (1993), and Turner in the North: A Tour Through Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, the Scottish Borders, the Lake District, Lancashire, and Lincolnshire in the Year 1797 (1996). Particular aspects of Turnerās work are also covered in a series of books published to accompany exhibitions at the Tate Gallery, including Cecilia Powell, Turnerās Rivers of Europe: The Rhine, Meuse and Mosel (1991), and Turner in Germany (1995); Ian Warrell, Through Switzerland with Turner: Ruskinās First Selection from the Turner Bequest (1995), Turner on the Loire (1997), and Turner on the Seine (1999); Fred G.H. Bachrach, Turnerās Holland (1994); the watercolours for two important engraving projects are covered by Eric Shanes, Turnerās Picturesque Views in England and Wales, 1825ā1838 (1979; reissued 1983), and Turnerās Rivers, Harbours, and Coasts (1981); Lindsay Stainton, Turnerās Venice (1985); and Martin Butlin, Mollie Luther, and Ian Warrell, Turner at Petworth: Painter & Patron (1989). Articles in the periodical Turner Studies (1981ā91) cover all aspects of his art and life and offer historical context.
Article Contributors
Primary Contributors
- Mary Chamot
- Martin R.F. Butlin
-
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors
Article History
| Type | Description | Contributor | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modified link of Web site: The Victorian Web - Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851). | Jul 24, 2026 | ||
| Anniversary information added. | Apr 19, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: Open Education Alberta - 19th Century European Art History - J. M. W. Turner. | Jan 29, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: BBC - Front Row - JMW Turner: 250th anniversary of Britain's greatest painter. | Dec 19, 2025 | ||
| Anniversary information added. | Dec 15, 2025 | ||
| Revised to modernize spellings. | Jun 04, 2024 | ||
| First paragraph modernization. | Apr 12, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: Royal Academy of Arts - J.M.W. Turner RA (1775 - 1851). | Jan 25, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: National Gallery of Art - Biography of Joseph Mallord William Turner. | Oct 12, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: The Victorian Web - Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851). | Sep 01, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: The Famous Artists - William Turner. | Jul 18, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Art in Context - William Turner - The Life and Romantic Works of J. M. W. Turner. | May 25, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Tate - J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours. | Jan 27, 2023 | ||
| Media added. | Jan 26, 2021 | ||
| Add new Web site: Artnet - Joseph Mallord William Turner. | Feb 22, 2019 | ||
| Add new Web site: The Art Story - Joseph Mallord William Turner. | Feb 22, 2019 | ||
| Add new Web site: National Gallery of Canada - Biography of J.M.W. Turner. | Feb 22, 2019 | ||
| Corrected display issue. | Jul 25, 2018 | ||
| Add new Web site: Art Encyclopedia - Biography of J. M. W. Turner. | Feb 15, 2018 | ||
| Changed title of the "Assessment" section to "Legacy." | Nov 15, 2017 | ||
| Add new Web site: ART UK - Biography of Joseph Mallord William Turner. | Dec 14, 2016 | ||
| Add new Web site: Khan Academy - Who is JMW Turner? | Dec 14, 2016 | ||
| Add new Web site: British Broadcasting Corporation - History - Biography of Joseph Turner. | Aug 04, 2014 | ||
| Add new Web site: TATE - Biography of Joseph Mallord William Turner. | May 19, 2014 | ||
| Add new Web site: Art UK - Biography of Joseph Mallord William Turner. | Feb 17, 2014 | ||
| Add new Web site: The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775ļæ½1851). | Feb 11, 2013 | ||
| Add new Web site: Spartacus Educational - Biography of J. M. W. Turner. | Feb 11, 2013 | ||
| Added image of Paris: HĆ“tel de Ville (1883), watercolour with pen and red ink on white paper by J.M.W. Turner. | Oct 04, 2010 | ||
| Added new Web site: Olga's Gallery - Joseph Mallord William Turner. | Jun 19, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: Joseph Mallord William Turner - The First Impressionist. | May 19, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: J. M. W. Turner. | May 18, 2006 | ||
| Article revised. | Mar 16, 2001 | ||
| Article added to new online database. | Jul 28, 1999 |