Joseph Mallord William Turner

Up until a few years ago, biographies of both JMW Turner and John Ruskin had claimed that, in 1858, Ruskin burned bundles of erotic paintings and drawings by Turner in a fit of embarsassed Victorian censorship, to protect Turner's posthumous reputation. This title examines this little known aspect of the artist's oeuvre.

The 'unfinished' watercolors in this book were the germinating iridescent center from which some of Turner's best known works emerged. The Petworth Watercolours, the 'Colour Beginnings', the sketches for 'Rivers of France' and other blue-paper sketches are all famous, yet have never before been reproduced in useful quantity. Here the relevant pencil sketchbooks, carefully but entertainingly annotated, provide a chronological matrix. The range, power, and brilliance of these watercolors will astonish even those who know Turner well through his oil paintings. From his return from Italy in 1820 to the 'Burning of the Houses of Parliament' in 1834, we see his work rise to a level rarely equalled in the story of art. In his color sketches Turner reaches out to the precarious edges of artistic achievement. -- Provided by publisher.

The Water-Colour Drawings of J.M.W. Turner R.A. in the National Gallery One of 1200 numbered copies, this edition is number 919, includes lithographs of Turner watercolors of the Harbours of England, Rivers of England , Rivers of France. Includes descriptive text by T. A. Cook. Measuring 13 1/2" x 11", the paper is heavy weight, 88 pages and includes 58 hand matted, hand tipped 6"x 9-3/8" full color lithographs. This is a large book weighing just over 6 pounds. The color plates are by Messrs Andre & Sleigh LTD, of Bushy Herts. Published by CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD 1909