J.M.W. Turner (1775 -1851) was a landscape painter from Britain. His father was a barber and wig-maker. Turner was born in Covent Garden, London, England. As a sickly child, he was sent to live in rural England in nearby Brentford with his uncle, and it was during this period that he began his career as an artist, a landscape painter. Turner returned to Covent after living with his uncle for almost 10 years. His works are known for their luminous, almost abstract quality. He brought Romantic imagery and luminosity to his subjects. Turner’s works were initially realistic but they progressed to become more poetic and fluid. His works are now regarded as the predecessor to Impressionism.
Although Turner received little formal schooling, he was clearly a talented artist, and by age 13 he was already selling drawings that were featured at his father's shop. He was admitted into The Royal Academy of Arts in late 1789, and the following year he was given the chance to display his work in the Royal Academy Exhibition. Four years later, the Royal Society of Arts awarded him the “Great Silver Pallet” for his landscape drawing. He was soon earning a steady income through a variety of his artistic works, including coloring sketches, selling designs to engravers, and providing private lessons. He began traveling extensively through Europe and was particularly inspired by his visits to Venice. The artists who influenced his works during this period included Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg, Thomas Gainsborough, Henry Fuseli, Richard Wilson and Michael Angelo Rooker. Framed J.M.W. Turner art are currently found in many institutions and art galleries throughout the world.