Joseph Mallord William Turner

William Turner, a great romantic English landscape painter, was born in Devonshire in 1775. He lived with his uncle in Middlesex, where he began to attend school. His first drawings are dated 1787, when he was only twelve years of age. His childish sketch-books, filled with drawings, are still preserved in the British Museum.

When he was 21, he began to exhibit oil paintings as well as water-colours at the Royal Academy. The first, "Fishermen at Sea" is now in the Gate Gallery. He traveled much in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy. But he never lost his interest in his own country. As a landscape painter Turner was interested mainly in light and colour effects. One of his famous paintings is even called "Light and Colour". His work is high praised by great critics.

Turner died in London in 1851. His pictures and drawings became the property of the British nation. William Turner is considered to be one of the world greatest painters.