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Which English landscape painters influenced J.M.W. Turnerās early work?
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J.M.W. Turner
The Fighting Temeraire Tugged to Her Last Berth to Be Broken Up, 1838, oil on canvas by J.M.W. Turner, 1839; in the National Gallery, London.
During his early career, J.M.W. Turnerās work was characterized by a topographical approach that imitated the leading English masters of his time. Two specific English landscape painters who significantly influenced his development were:1
- John Robert Cozens: Turner was employed to create copies and elaborations of Cozens's unfinished drawings, an experience that helped broaden his outlook and introduced him to a more poetic and imaginative approach to landscape.1
- Richard Wilson: The influence of this Welsh landscape painter also played a key role in guiding Turner toward a more imaginative style, which he continued to refine throughout his career.1
Additionally, during his youth, Turner worked alongside his friend and fellow artist Thomas Girtin. Both were employed to color prints and wash in skies for architectural drawings, and they shared a formative period in the development of English landscape painting as they transitioned from traditional topographical methods toward more atmospheric and Romantic styles.2