Event Item: 00055

J. M. W. Turner opens at The National Gallery of Art

Exhibition: 1st Oct 2007 to 6th Jan 2008

Source: http://www.nga.gov

Rising from a modest background, Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) became the leading British artist of his era. Over the course of six decades, he transformed the genre of landscape through works that proclaimed him heir to the old masters even while they heralded a new and visionary direction in 19th-century painting. Known for his technical brilliance and startling use of light and colour, he incorporated learned references to literature, mythology, and historical events in his pictures. His commitment to the idea that watercolour equalled oil painting in complexity and expressive power raised the standard for others working in the medium. And his exquisitely rendered works, heralded for their virtuosity, inspired generations of artists.

This exhibition is the most comprehensive survey of Turner's work ever presented in the United States. More than 145 paintings and watercolours reveal the astonishing talent and imagination of this artistwhom Alfred, Lord Tennyson called "The Shakespeare of landscape."

The National Gallery of Art, 4th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565