“The painter of light”

My initial inspiration came from William Turner. The blending of the oils have such depth, and movement. Turner’s radical spirit of enquiry and his innovative approach to light, colour, and the depiction of nature.

He became known as 'the painter of light', because of his increasing interest in brilliant colours as the main constituent in his landscapes and seascapes. His works include water colours, oils and engravings.

Rain, speed and steam - The Great Western Highway 1844

This particular piece of his steam engine comes towards us as it crosses the Maidenhead Railway Bridge in the rain. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the bridge was completed in 1838. We are looking east towards London as the train heads to the west. The exaggeratedly abrupt foreshortening of the viaduct, which our eye follows to the horizon, suggests the speed with which the train bursts into view through the rain. Turner lightly brushed in a hare roughly midway along the rail track to represent the speed of the natural world in contrast to the mechanised speed of the engine. The animal is now invisible as the paint has become transparent with age, but it can be seen in an 1859 engraving of the painting.

Turner frequently painted scenes of contemporary life and was particularly interested in industry and technology. As he often used new forms of transport, including steam trains, it is unlikely that the painting is a rejection of modernity. Instead, he saw both the train and the bridge as subjects worthy of being painted.

Breaking Waves

To celebrate Turner 250, we have Turner's remarkable painting Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate (Study for Rockets and Blue Lights), c. 1840 on display. This display will give visitors the opportunity to experience one of Turner’s masterful depictions of the Kent coastline, reinforcing the gallery’s deep connection to his legacy.

The painting, likely created in Margate, captures the raw energy of a stormy sea viewed safely from the shore. Looking east towards the Stone Pier and lighthouse, the composition suggests an unseen vessel battling the turbulent waters.

art is for everybody

https://turnercontemporary.org/visit-us