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The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons (1835), Joseph Mallord William Turner (British, b. 1775)
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The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons (1835), Joseph Mallord William Turner (British, b. 1775) On the night of October 16, 1834, the Houses of Parliament in London were consumed by fire. As their seat of government went up in flames, Londoners crowded bridges, lined the banks of the River Thames, and filled every available boat in order to gaze in awe at the horrifying spectacle.Following his usual working practice, J.M.W.Turner made sketches and studies of the fire while it was burning and then reworked them in his studio to render The Burning of the House of Lords and Commons. Turner transformed the flames into a surging maelstrom of vigorously applied, radiant color, thus emphasizing the helplessness of mankind in the face of nature's mysterious and awesome power. The fire's terrifying force, which drawfs people, boats, and bridges, fully embodies the Romantic fascination with the sublime. Turner's free brushwork and brilliant color later inspired the French Impressionists, especially Claude Monet (1840–1926). Page 4 of 14 | On the next page: La Vie (1903), Pablo Picasso (Spanish, b. 1881) |
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