Painting and History: Turner After a Century
Geoffrey Grigson places the great English landscape artist in historical context.
Having the centenary habit of revaluation in England, it is curious that we have made little fuss this year of the hundredth anniversary of Turner’s death. One art historian remarked to me that it was Turner’s own fault. He made the error of willing his vast quantity of unsold paintings to the nation. We have become blind to them by too much familiarity. Or is it the fault of Ruskin? Of excessive adulation and analysis in Modern Painters? The two causes go together. After his death, it is well for a painter if his best work is distributed over many galleries and collections and countries.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
