Turner and the Masters

Exhibition at Tate Britain examining the influence on Turner of the Old Masters and his contemporaries. Often Turner is trying to outdo the other artists and prove his place in art history.

The exhibition also shed light on the workings of the art world around 1800 looking at the markets and the importance of the Royal Academy exhibitions.

I found it a very intellectual exhibition which was I admit a bit hard going at times. I did however like that fact that in most cases the works which had actually influenced Turner were hung alongside his own works.

My favorite pictures were the ones of Venice. I loved the one of St Marks Square in which Turner had included Canelletto painting the same scene. Next to it was a wonderful late picture of Bellini’s being delivered to a church.

The exhibition did get the prize for the worst picture I’ve seen this year! A picture of Jessica from the Merchant of Venice by Turner. Thank goodness he mainly stuck to landscapes!

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