Artists You Should Know: J.M.W. Turner

From the Art History mailbag:

" ... What are your thoughts on the Turner being selected as the 'greatest' painting in Britain? Was this a fair vote, or was it slanted so that a British citizen would win?

Sincerely,
Curious Yank"

Gracious, Yank, you flatter me. First, because I'm a fellow Yank (not BBC Radio 4) and so am probably not entitled to opine on this and, secondly, because I think - no wait, I know - hardly anyone, husband and kids included, cares what my opinion is (and not just about Turner, either). So truly, thank you for being awfully kind. Now, I do feel comfortable saying that Turner was an immensely important figure in both British Art and all of Art History in general. In the grand scheme of things, his Rain, Steam and Speed: The Great Western Railway (1844) has always struck me as the first "Impressionist" painting and, hence, represents the very crack of Modernism's exciting dawn. I probably would've voted for that, had I felt justified in voting and had it been an option. Regardless of how one views this popular vote, it's always a happy thing to have the opportunity to crow over Turner and I'm glad he "won." Thanks to your email I've put together a long-overdue profile of J.M.W. Turner who is, incidentally, always the "Turner" about whom the Art World is speaking whenever anyone mentions "Turner." Enjoy.