Turner's Watercolours
Explore Turner's legacy through his captivating Yorkshire watercolour series.
Known for his innovative approach to landscape painting, J.M.W. Turner's legacy endures. He was a master of capturing light and atmosphere. His paintings, often inspired by the changing world around him, remain powerful testaments to his artistic genius.
Scarborough Castle: Boys Crab Fishing (1809) by Joseph Mallord William Turner The Wallace Collection
Turner’s set of Yorkshire views begins chronologically with this depiction of the south bay of Scarborough, taking in the bay with its busy fishing harbour and the bathers going out in their bathing machines and illustrating the town’s thriving fishing and tourist activities.
Turner's stormy marine paintings gave way to a calm achieved through repeated forms in this work. The oval bay shape is echoed in beach pools and a boy's hoop, with the confident freehand drawing of the bank and misty headland crowned by its medieval castle.
Grouse Shooting on Beamsley Beacon (1816) by Joseph Mallord William Turner The Wallace Collection
This is one of Turner’s earliest representations of the Yorkshire moors and shows a shooting party of two men on horseback accompanied by four men on foot. The carriage of the pointer dog in the centre indicates that he has picked up the scent of grouse.
The painting masterfully captures moorland topography and atmosphere. Tiny figures are dwarfed by the vast moor, seemingly enveloped by its contours. Low, heavy clouds obscure distant peaks while sunlight breaks through, creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow.
Woodcock Shooting on Otley Chevin (1813) by Joseph Mallord William Turner The Wallace Collection
Turner captures a woodcock in mid-flight, fixing it in mid-air between two large spruce trees, as the sportsman aims his gun. The shape of its flapping wings is beautifully echoed in the curled, feathery branches.
Pale ochre leaves of deciduous trees contrast with deep brown bracken. Rich evergreen shades are intensified with ink, and silvery light on birch trunks enhances the autumnal atmosphere, showcasing Turner's skillful use of warm, complementary tones.
Hackfall, near Ripon (1816) by Joseph Mallord William Turner The Wallace Collection
Turner's bright watercolor of Mowbray Castle is suffused with light. Thin paint layers reveal the paper's whiteness, while loose, detailed brushwork suggests quick painting. Fast-moving water and waves are depicted using complementary green and maroon, with whites scratched out.
Turner masked white birch trunks and added dark chestnut-red bark details, leaving fingerprint marks for texture. A woman on the path adds scale and evokes Claude’s pastoral scenes, reminding patrons of shepherds with their flocks.
Venice: The Piazzetta (19th Century) by Richard Parkes Bonington The Wallace Collection
Turner also shared a relationship with contemporary artist Richard Parkes Bonington, characterised by mutual admiration and artistic influence. To find our more, explore the legacy of these two beloved English artists here
.
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.
