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Turner, Whistler, Monet

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Monet spoke explicitly of the inspiration he took from
Turner's Thames and Venetian oils and watercolors.

Whistler's debt to Turner was much more complex. The
artist and critic John Ruskin seemed to have arrogated
to himself the role of interpreting and protecting the
late JMW Turner's legacy before the British public after
Turner's death.

Ruskin denounced Whistler's loosely atmospheric Nocturnes
as unworthy of the mantle once worn by Turner, the
British landscape painter par excellence, making it
difficult for Whistler to sell his Nocturnes to British
collectors. Whistler sued Ruskin for libel and won
but the damage to Whistler's sales had been done.

The American-born Whistler for his part was left with
such mixed feelings following in the steps of Turner
that he downplayed any connection he felt to the late
painter.

Nevertheless, Whistler moved into Turner's Chelsea
neighborhood and painted strikingly similar views.
Whistler also did a series of impressionistic pastels
in Venice, comparable to the abstract watercolor
impressions left by Turner.

In the end, Turner no doubt inspired this younger
generation of impressionistic painters whose legacy
became quite rich in itself.

Ironically, Ruskin and the pre-Raphaelites who hoped to wear
the aura left by Turner never quite filled the
shoes left by the old man.

The collaborate effort of Katharine A. Lochnan (Senior Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Art Gallery of Ontario) and Ian Warrell (Tate Curator and Editor of Turner and Venice), Turner, Whistler, Monet: Impressionist Visions ponders the intricate interrelationships between three great artists and their contributions to 19th century landscape art. Filled with black-and-white as well as full color representations of soul-stirring landscape, sunset, and scenery artworks, Turner, Whistler, Monet also proffers scholarly text tracing the lives and histories of these three artists as well as the philosophical messages and schools of thought behind their enduring legacies. A superb coffee table book that strives for greater understanding of the art world.