Turner and the Sublime: Understanding His Philosophical Influence
Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775–1851
The Mouth of the River Humber c.1824–5
D18151
Joseph Mallord William Turner, often hailed as a pioneer of the Romantic movement, possessed a profound understanding of the sublime—a concept deeply rooted in philosophical discourse and aesthetic theory.
Turner's exploration of the sublime in his paintings transcended mere representation, inviting viewers to confront the awe-inspiring power and beauty of the natural world.
The Sublime in Art and Philosophy: The concept of the sublime emerged in 18th-century philosophy as a means of describing experiences that transcend human comprehension and evoke a sense of awe, wonder, and terror. Scholars such as Edmund Burke and Immanuel Kant explored the sublime as a form of aesthetic experience that arises from encounters with vast, overwhelming, and often terrifying phenomena, such as storms, mountains, and turbulent seas.
Turner was deeply influenced by these philosophical ideas and sought to capture the sublime in his paintings through his dramatic portrayals of nature's grandeur.
Turner's Depiction of the Sublime: Turner's paintings are replete with scenes that evoke the sublime in all its glory and terror. His depictions of stormy seas, towering mountains, and tumultuous skies convey a sense of awe and reverence for the awesome power of the natural world.
In works such as "Snow Storm: Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps" and "The Slave Ship (Slavers Throwing Overboard the Dead and Dying, Typhoon Coming On)," Turner confronts viewers with the raw, untamed forces of nature, inviting them to contemplate their own insignificance in the face of such overwhelming power.
Philosophical Influence on Turner's Artistry: Turner's engagement with philosophical ideas about the sublime profoundly influenced his artistic practice. He sought to evoke in his viewers the same sense of awe and wonder that he experienced when confronted with the majesty of nature. Through his use of light, colour, and composition, Turner captured the sublime in all its manifestations, from the serene beauty of a sunset to the terrifying fury of a thunderstorm. His paintings serve as meditations on the human condition, reminding viewers of the fragility and vulnerability of human existence in the face of nature's sublime power.
References:
Tate Britain - J.M.W. Turner Collection
National Gallery - J.M.W. Turner Biography
The Metropolitan Museum of Art - J.M.W. Turner Overview
Matthew Imms, ‘Storm Clouds over a Landscape at Sunset c.1823–6 by Joseph Mallord William Turner’, catalogue entry, September 2016, in David Blayney Brown (ed.), J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours, Tate Research Publication, December 2016, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/jmw-turner/joseph-mallord-william-turner-storm-clouds-over-a-landscape-at-sunset-r1183683, accessed 25 March 2024.
Alice Rylance-Watson, ‘The Mouth of the River Humber c.1824–5 by Joseph Mallord William Turner’, catalogue entry, March 2013, in David Blayney Brown (ed.), J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours, Tate Research Publication, August 2014, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/jmw-turner/joseph-mallord-william-turner-the-mouth-of-the-river-humber-r1146214, accessed 25 March 2024