Monday 12 August 2013

An Outing in Turner's Footsteps

This afternoon friend G and I set off on a little outing by car.   We didn't have far to go but we were actually for a short time following the trail of J M W Turner.   

Turner set off from London on the coach for Leeds on July 12th 1816 having been commissioned by Longmans to paint 120 watercolours to illustrate a seven volume history of the County of York.

In fact Turner filled three sketchbooks with over four hundred drawings and was paid 3000 guineas for the project - the most money he had ever been paid.  Ruskin thought they had 'the most heart in them and the most serious finishing of truth' of anything Turner had painted.

He seems to have come up through Wharfedale and into Wensleydale, and one of the first places he sketched (and later painted) was West Burton Falls, saying that he loved the way the water fanned out at the bottom, showing the rocks behind.

Well, here they are - West Burton Falls, only a matter of five or six miles from home, and always a joy to visit.

As we drove into the village there was a sight and a smell which immediately brought to mind Autumn.   We had had signs on the way as we saw masses of rooks gathered in the fields and searching for grubs in the grass - yes, the rooks are beginning to get together in a gang again.    But this is what we saw that made us both say "Autumn" -

18 comments:

Jan said...

Beautiful falls! I'm so ready for fall-high temperature yesterday was 102 F. Supposed to be back down in the 80's for the next few days. Too soon here to say summmer's over though!

Heather said...

Lovely post Pat. I didn't know that about Turner - he must have been such a prolific artist, and those falls are a sight to cheer the soul. I always think of my grandfather when I smell a bonfire - he loved a good bonfire.

The Solitary Walker said...

Yes, we've noticed the rooks congregating too, Pat.

Love Turner.

Hildred said...

Poor Turner, - if he could only have had some of that glorious light he put in his paintings in his own personal life!

I am looking forward to September, - I don't imagine August will give us much indication of Fall coming, although I do wish it would cool down....

Cloudia said...

The name Turner means quite a lot to this uneducated colonial. You told me more of is backstory, and showed his inspiration as well. Thank You




Aloha

ArtPropelled said...

I can see why Turner would want to sketch and paint the falls. So pretty!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I know!
I told my husband this morning that the light out the kitchen window looked like autumn. Even though it's hot and humid at present, fall is peeking through, ready to make an entrance. Makes me so excited!
xo

Gwil W said...

When I look at paintings by Turner I often have the feeling there's something wrong with my eyesight.

angryparsnip said...

Turner is on the top of my favorite artist list. I have many books of his paintings. One year the city of Boston had a Year of Turner and evey place that had some piece of Turner artwork was open to view. It was heaven.
How wonderful that you live so close to West Burton Falls.

cheers, parsnip

jill said...

Pat that was lovely to read I didn't know any of that, thank you for sharing. I love autumn and am looking forward to it. Love Jill xx

Reader Wil said...

Thank you for telling about Turner! I had never heard of him before. I love your header. It's funny that you should feel the weather looks like autumn, because I have the same feeling. There are many spiders weaving their webs.

thelma said...

Autumn of course brings September, mellowed fields, and that golden haze which I'm sure Turner would have loved....

Crafty Green Poet said...

lovely waterfalls.

there's something even in the slant of the light that's saying autumn. Already!

Em Parkinson said...

Turner is one of those artists that stand head and shoulders above all the others in my opinion. Fabulous pictures Pat.

Terry and Linda said...

Your header is just outstanding! You live in a lush and green land!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Pondside said...

A Turner landscape is unmistakable, even in real life!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for the visit - glad you enjoyed the glimpse into Turner's landscape.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for the visit - glad you enjoyed the glimpse into Turner's landscape.