Joseph Mallord William Turner

Sitterback to top

• Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851), Landscape painter. Sitter associated with 41 portraits, Artist associated with 4 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Charles West Cope (1811-1890), History painter. Artist of 25 portraits, Sitter in 5 portraits.

This portraitback to top

A precocious and prolific artist, Turner's early oil paintings reflect the influence of Claude and Poussin and his later landscapes are remarkable for their dazzling effects of light and colour. This portrait of him was painted by Charles West Cope when a student at the Royal Academy Schools in 1828. It was later described by his son, the artist Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope, as 'a little oil sketch painted by my father...when he was a student, of Turner at work on a picture of his own, in one of the empty rooms of the RA Schools with some of the porters or sweepers looking on. He used to do this when he was a 'Visitor' in the Schools. Being a bit of a pincher, he did not wish to forego the fees that were then paid for the teaching Visitors gave to the students, but spent most of his time there in the manner depicted'.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Holmes, Richard; Crane, David; Woof, Robert; Hebron, Stephen, Romantics and Revolutionaries: Regency portraits from the National Portrait Gallery, 2002, p. 75
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 626

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Artists and their studios
• Making art