J.M.W. Turner: Turning Light into Art

A new subscriber recently told me that J.M.W. Turner is his favorite artist. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to share Turner's incredible journey with you. He is one of the most famous landscape painters of all time, known as the "Painter of Light."

From Humble Beginnings

Joseph Mallord William Turner was born on April 23, 1775, in London to a modest family. His father was a barber, and his mother suffered from mental illness, eventually being admitted to an asylum. This difficult childhood shaped Turner’s early years and, some say, influenced his emotional connection to nature and light. 

J.M.W. Turner, Self-Portrait, c. 1799

Even as a young boy, Turner showed a remarkable talent for drawing. By the time he was 14, he was accepted into the Royal Academy of Art. But Turner didn’t want to copy other artists. He had his own vision of what art could be.

The Power of Light

"It is only when we are no longer fearful that we begin to create." - J.M.W. Turner

Turner's early work focused on drawing buildings and landscapes, but even then, something was different. While other artists aimed for perfect details, Turner began to experiment with light and movement.

Rather than painting exactly what he saw, Turner wanted to show how light changes everything. Whether it was the sunrise or a dark storm, the light was always at the center of his paintings. Turner’s art invited people to feel nature’s power on a personal level.

Critics Didn’t Understand Him

"I don't paint so that people will understand me, I paint to show what a particular scene looks like." - J.M.W. Turner

Turner's unconventional approach wasn't always well-received. Many critics didn’t understand his work. They thought his paintings were blurry and unfinished. Why weren’t his landscapes clear? Why didn’t they look like real life?

But Turner was his own harshest critic. He doubted his abilities, struggled with depression, and dealt with the pain of losing his mother. He often chose to be alone, traveling across Europe to find new landscapes and inspiration.

The Turning Point

Turner’s career took a big turn when he decided he didn’t need to paint the world exactly as it looked. Instead, he focused on how it felt.

A great example is his painting The Fighting Temeraire, which shows an old warship being towed to be scrapped. But it’s not just about a ship. It’s a story about change, and the bright colors of the sky suggest the end of an era.

J.M.W. Turner, The Fighting Temeraire, 1839

His later works, like Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbour’s Mouth, pushed even further, focusing on light and movement more than detail. This bold shift made Turner one of the most innovative artists of his time.

J.M.W. Turner, Snow Storm: Steam-Boat off a Harbour’s Mouth, 1842

Masterpieces to be Remembered

Turner’s painting Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway captures the power of the Industrial Revolution. A train rushes toward the viewer, cutting through rain and mist. It feels like the train is coming straight at you.

J.M.W. Turner, Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway, 1844

Another powerful painting, The Slave Ship, shows a beautiful sunset over rough waves. But then you notice something darker—people thrown into the sea, left to drown. Turner used this painting to speak out against the horrors of the slave trade.

J.M.W. Turner, The Slave Ship, 1840

In The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, Turner painted flames and smoke so vivid that you can almost feel the heat. He had an incredible talent for using color to pull viewers into the moment.

J.M.W. Turner, The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 1834

A Legacy of Hard Work

Turner died on December 19, 1851, from cholera, leaving behind an enormous legacy. He created more than 2,000 paintings, 19,000 drawings, and 300 sketchbooks. While some critics thought his later works were too wild, today, they’re seen as ahead of their time.

In his final years, Turner’s art became almost abstract. He stopped focusing on objects and painted pure emotion—just color and light. His bold choices inspired artists like Claude Monet and the Impressionists. Even today, Turner’s work continues to influence modern art and push boundaries.

"I have no secret but hard work. This is a secret that many never learn, and they don't succeed because they don't learn it. Labor is the genius that changes the world from ugliness to beauty, and the great curse to a great blessing." - J.M.W. Turner