Turner & Italy

James Hamilton

J.M.W. Turner conducted a love affair with Italy throughout his professional life. He was enchanted by its climate, landscapes, architecture and art, and this book explores this complex relationship.

Turner travelled to Italy seven times, and the drawings he made were used as the basis for outstanding oil paintings, exhibited in London and Rome, and watercolours that were engraved and widely distributed. Together they created a seductive and potent view of Italy which has remained popular ever since.

James Hamilton, the noted Turner scholar, gives a fascinating and extensive account of the artist's travels. This is complemented by essays from Christopher Baker (Deputy Director, National Gallery of Scotland), Jacqueline Ridge (Keeper of Conservation, National Galleries of Scotland) and Nicola Moorby (Curator, Tate Britain), which consider the patronage Turner enjoyed, the use he made of sketchbooks, and his technical brilliance as a painter.

160pp | Paperback | 200 illustrations