Tuesday 20 May 2014

The artist JMW Turner in Yorkshire

How many of you knew that the great landscape artist JMW Turner (1775-1851) spent time sketching and painting in Yorkshire?


York Art Gallery held an exhibition in 1980 that featured many of his works from around our area and we have the exhibition catalogue on the Library shelves. It’s only a slim booklet with black and white images but it makes for interesting reading. Turner painted scenes all over the county, including Ilkley Moor, Knaresborough and Whitby, and produced this beautiful painting of York Minster, viewed from the River Ouse, c.1815.

Image of View of York Minster from the River Ouse by JMW Turner
View of York Minster from the River Ouse
Image courtesy of www.william-turner.org 
 - click to enlarge
It's difficult to tell exactly where the artist must have been positioned for this view. Does anyone have a suggestion?
***
Snow Storm, Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps 1812
Image courtesy of www.william-turner.org - click to enlarge
The picture to the left is Turner's Hannibal Crossing the Alps. According to William-Turner.org, the tempestuous backdrop of this famous scene is "reputed to have been inspired by a storm over Otley's Chevin while Turner was staying at Farnley Hall".



(For those readers who have completed the gruelling Boxing Day Chevin Chase run this information will come as no surprise.)

2 comments:

  1. Must be standing around about where the Millennium Bridge is I'd say?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Perhaps people interested in Turner in Yorkshire might like to know of the Turner on the Ure 2016 festival this summer.
    details via website: www.turnerontheure2016.com
    Philip Spellacy

    ReplyDelete

Anybody can comment on this blog, provided that your comment is constructive and relevant. Comments represent the view of the individual and do not represent those of The University of York Information Directorate. All comments are moderated and the Information Directorate reserves the right to decline, edit or remove any unsuitable comments.