Joseph Mallord William Turner. Joseph Mallord William Turner was a renowned English Romantic painter celebrated for his expressive use of color and light.
He was a master of capturing the dramatic and sublime aspects of nature, particularly in his landscapes and seascapes. In 2014, his painting Rome from Mount Aventine sold at Sotheby's for $47,000,000.
Turner's work significantly influenced the development of Impressionism and modern art. He was influenced by the Dutch masters, particularly the marine painters like Willem van de Velde the Younger, who inspired his interest in depicting the power and beauty of the sea.
He also admired the Italianate landscapes of Claude Lorrain, which influenced his use of light and atmosphere. His Fighting Temeraire (London National Gallery), contrasts the grandeur of an old warship with the power of the industrial age.
Rain, Steam and Speed (also London National Gallery) captures the dynamic energy of the Industrial Revolution, blending elements of landscape and machinery. His Slave Ship (Boston Museum of Fine Arts) is a powerful and disturbing image that evokes the horrors of the slave trade. He was born in London and showed an early talent for art. He entered the Royal Academy of Arts when he was just 14 years old and quickly gained recognition for his watercolor paintings. In his early career, Turner focused on topographical and architectural subjects, but he later beca