* British Painting in the 19th Century

John Constable William Turner

The art of this period was diversified, it depicted the continual changes that took place in the life of the British people. But Romanticism was the leading force in the New Art. The lesire for understanding and expression of human life in all its aspects led the Romanticism to the past, but by attitude to the present, Romanticism opened the way to realism, which became the most vital force in the XIX century art. The Romantic artists sought inspiration in this history, they were attracted by exotic historical surroundings, but they also acquired a growing understanding of contemporary life

John Constable, one of the greatest landscape painters, was born in Sufford, June 11, He was the son of a wealthy miller. He began to take interest in landscape painting while he was at grammar school. His father did not favour art as profession. As a boy Constable worked almost secretly, painting in the cottage of an amateur painter. His keen artistic interest was such that his father allowed him to visit London in 1795, where he began to study painting.

* Although he showed an early talent for art and began painting his native Suffolk scenery before he left school, his great originality matured slowly. He committed himself to a career as an artist only in 1799, when he joined the Royal Academy Schools and it was not until 1829 that he was grudgingly made a full Academician, elected by a majority of only one vote. The Royal Academy School

Flatford Mill 1817 Malvern Hall. 1809

Waterloo Bridge The White Horse: 1819

* In 1816 he became financially secure on the death of his father and married Maria Bicknell after a seven-year courtship and in the fact of strong opposition from her family. Maria Bicknell (Mrs John Constable): 1816

Salisbury Cathedral, from the Bishop's Grounds Wivenhoe Park. 1816

Paintings « Salisbury Cathedral, from the Meadows » « Boatbuilding » « The Glebe Farm »

« Dedham Church and Vale » « Hadleigh Castle » « Boys Fishing » « Coldish С onstable’s Kitchen Garten »

In 1835, his last lecture to the students of the RA, in which he praised Raphael and called the R.A. the "cradle of British art", was "cheered most heartily". He died on the night of the 31st March, apparently from indigestion, and was buried with Maria in the graveyard of St John-at- Hampstead, Hampstead. (His children John Charles Constable and Charles Golding Constable are also buried in this family tomb.)St John-at- Hampstead John Charles ConstableCharles Golding Constable

Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in London, England, on April 23, His father was a barber. His mother died when he was very young. The boy received little schooling. His father taught him how to read, but this was the extent of his education except for the study of art. By the age of 13 he was making drawings at home and exhibiting them in his father's shop window for sale. Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in London, England, on April 23, His father was a barber. His mother died when he was very young. The boy received little schooling. His father taught him how to read, but this was the extent of his education except for the study of art. By the age of 13 he was making drawings at home and exhibiting them in his father's shop window for sale.

He entered the Royal Academy of Art schools in 1789, when he was only 14 years old, and was accepted into the academy a year later. Sir Joshua Reynolds, president of the Royal Academy at the time, chaired the panel that admitted him. At first Turner showed a keen interest in architecture but was advised to keep to painting by the architect Thomas Hardwick (junior). A watercolour of Turner's was accepted for the Summer Exhibition of 1790 after only one year's study. He exhibited his first oil painting in 1796, Fishermen at Sea, and thereafter exhibited at the academy nearly every year for the rest of his life.

Although known for his oils, Turner is regarded as one of the founders of English watercolour landscape painting. Some of his most famous works are “Calais Pier”, “Dido Building Carthage”, “Rain”, “Steam and Speed”, “Burial at Sea”, and “The Grand Canal, Venice”.

Early Career Turner was 15 years old when he received a rare honor--one of his paintings was exhibited at the Royal Academy. By the time he was 18 he had his own studio. Before he was 20 print sellers were eagerly buying his drawings for reproduction. He quickly achieved a fine reputation and was elected an associate of the Royal Academy. In 1802, when he was only 27, Turner became a full member. He then began traveling widely in Europe.

The most famous works

The Europe Turner travelled widely in Europe, starting with France and Switzerland in 1802 and studying in the Louvre in Paris in the same year. He also made many visits to Venice during his lifetime. William Turner never married, although he had a mistress, Sarah Danby, by whom he had two daughters. Amongst his most famous work is 'The fighting Temeraire tugged to her last berth to be broken up', painted in 1839.Venice was the inspiration of some of Turner's finest work. Wherever he visited he studied the effects of sea and sky in every kind of weather. His early training had been as a topographic draftsman. With the years, however, he developed a painting technique all his own. Instead of merely recording factually what he saw, Turner translated scenes into a light-filled expression of his own romantic feelings. He made his first visit to Italy in 1819, returning in 1828, 1835, and in It was from his first visit that he started to use the pale brilliance of colour in his oil-paintings that he had already used in his watercolours He made his first visit to Italy in 1819, returning in 1828, 1835, and in It was from his first visit that he started to use the pale brilliance of colour in his oil-paintings that he had already used in his watercolours.

As he grew older, Turner became more eccentric. He had few close friends, except for his father, who lived with him for thirty years, eventually working as his studio assistant. His father died in 1829, which had a profound effect on him, and thereafter he was subject to bouts of depression. William Turner died in his house in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea on December At his request he was buried in St Paul's Cathedral, where he lies next to Sir Joshua Reynolds. His last exhibition at the Royal Academy was in Turner left a large fortune that he hoped would be used to support what he called "decaying artists." His collection of paintings was bequeathed to the British nation, and he intended that a special gallery would be built to house them. This did not come to pass owing to a dispute by his descendants over the legality of his will. Twenty years after his death, the paintings were given over to the British Museum