Why did J.M.W. Turner compare his paintings with the works of Claude Lorrain?

J.M.W. Turner’s comparison of his work to that of the 17th-century landscape painter Claude Lorrain was rooted in a deep professional rivalry and a desire to demonstrate his mastery of the landscape tradition.

Turner held a profound respect for the Old Masters, and he methodically studied their styles to refine his own approach to luminosity, atmosphere, and light. His competitive spirit was famously underscored by his bequest to the National Gallery in London. In his will, he stipulated that two of his own major works—Dido Building Carthage, or the Rise of the Carthaginian Empire (1815) and Sun Rising Through Vapour: Fishermen Cleaning and Selling Fish (1807)—must be hung permanently alongside two of his favorite paintings by Claude.

By mandating this placement, Turner sought to prove that his innovative, atmospheric style could stand as an equal to, or even surpass, the traditional achievements of the masters who had influenced his early development. This act served as a final testament to his belief that he had successfully evolved the landscape genre while remaining connected to its historical roots.