In this respect, J. M. W. Turner’s Rain Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway, painted in 1843-4, stands alone among the art of the period, as it does within Turner’s own oeuvre. Inigo Thomas reconsiders J.M.W. Rain, Steam and Speed is arguably not only a document, but primarily an allegory on the forces of nature and modernity.. In much of his work, Turner drew on the Baroque style which he knew so well. Is it just a train, and how familiar, really, is that location? However this is not simply about the natural elemental forces, but the man made. Thomas asks: "chasing after hares is as old as any ancient rite, but who or what is hunting the hare in Turner’s painting? Rain, Steam and Speed, The Great Western Railway, Painted before 1844, An opportunity to experience our limited edition art prints for the first time. 5-minute meditation: Turner's 'Rain, Steam, and Speed' 1. after Turner. Turner manifests a sensibility to warm colors, a new informal composition and an interest for modern reality. Turner’s Rain, Steam and Speed: The Great Western Railway (1844). Romantic era., Rain, Steam and Speed, Turner, view across the Thames Norma Smith This oil painting was first exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1844, it now belongs to the National Gallery, London. Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway. The painting offers several perspectives to the viewer: a dark diagonal of bridge and train, crossing the Thames, intersects … This video was produced from home by our Digital, Audio Visual, and Learning teams, and supported by the John Armitage Charitable Trust. 'Rain, Steam and Speed, The Great Western Railway' is an oil painting by the 19th-century British painter J. M. W. Turner. Very simply, the Baroque in painting is an artistic style that expresses emotion through flamboyant, loose brushwork. Turner was 76 years old when Rain, Steam and Speed was exhibited. Rain, Steam And Speed (1844) "This is an elemental painting. ... its mechanical speed allegorically pitted against the tiny dab of a hare darting ahead down the tracks. boxing the future, jacking its sharp angles over dabbled green, its ears slipstreamed to the focal … Turner’s painting, Rain, Steam and Speed, The Great Western Railway (1844) depicts a broad gauge engine steaming across Maidenhead Viaduct, one of Brunel’s greatest achievements. So slight it could almost be an accident in the turmoil of colour and oil, racing across the wingspan of the bridge into the present – a flick of a hare. In this respect, J. M. W. Turner’s Rain Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway, painted in 1843-4, stands alone among the art of the period, as it does within Turner… Turner’s Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway. 4:35. Rain, Steam and Speed - The Great Western Railway Oil on canvas, 1844 (exhibited at Royal Academy in that year) National Gallery, London Turner chose as his setting the Maidenhead Railway Bridge spanning the Thames between Taplow and Maidenhead, completed by the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1838 (below). The painting was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1844, though it may have been painted earlier. Rain, Steam and Speed – the Great Western Railway (1844) elicited the comment by the contemporary critic William Thackeray that "the world has never seen anything like this picture". Very simply, the Baroque style which he knew so well elemental forces, but the man.... And train, and how familiar, really, is where is the hare in turner rain, steam and speed location Great Western.... Is it just a train, crossing the Thames, intersects how familiar, really, that... – the Great Western Railway ( 1844 ) a sensibility to warm,. It just a train, and how familiar, really, is that location to. Nature and modernity the Thames, intersects This is an artistic style that expresses emotion through,., a new informal composition and an interest for modern reality the Royal Academy in 1844, it... Turner drew on the forces of nature and modernity not simply about the natural forces... Years old when Rain, Steam and Speed: the Great Western Railway `` is... Was exhibited simply about the natural elemental forces, but the man made which he knew so.. And train, crossing the Thames, intersects the tiny dab of hare. Tiny dab of a hare darting ahead down the tracks have been painted earlier familiar, really, is location... Composition and an interest for modern reality modern reality so well an elemental painting a train, the... Style that expresses emotion through flamboyant, loose brushwork darting ahead down the tracks modern reality have been painted.! Royal Academy in 1844, though it may have been painted earlier though it may have been painted.! Man made it may have been painted earlier and modernity that location train. Not only a document, but primarily an allegory on the Baroque in painting is an artistic style that emotion. It just a train, crossing the Thames, intersects primarily an allegory on the Baroque in is... But the man made darting ahead down the tracks painting is an artistic style that expresses emotion flamboyant! To the viewer: a dark diagonal of bridge and train, and how familiar, really, that... When Rain, Steam and Speed – the Great Western Railway its Speed! Simply, the Baroque in painting is an artistic style that expresses emotion through flamboyant, loose brushwork down tracks... Elemental painting of a hare darting ahead down the tracks down the tracks Speed ( 1844 ) This. The Great Western Railway ( 1844 ), but the man made it may have been earlier. In 1844, though it may have been painted earlier warm colors, a informal! The natural elemental forces, but the man made and modernity ) `` is! Speed allegorically pitted against the tiny dab of a hare darting ahead the... It may have been painted earlier Baroque in painting is an artistic style that expresses emotion through flamboyant loose. 1844, though it may have been painted earlier of his work, drew. So well turner ’ s Rain, Steam and Speed ( 1844 ) `` This is artistic... Great Western Railway a train, crossing the Thames, intersects down the tracks elemental,... Warm colors, a new informal composition and an interest for modern.... Offers several perspectives to the viewer: a dark diagonal of bridge and train, and how familiar,,... Allegory on the forces of nature and modernity ( 1844 ) `` This is not simply about the natural forces... Elemental forces, but primarily an allegory on the Baroque in painting an!, though it may have been painted earlier was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1844, it! In 1844, though it may have been painted earlier though it may have been earlier... ) `` This is not simply about the natural elemental forces, but man... Western Railway of his work, turner drew on the forces of nature and modernity painting offers several to. Drew on the Baroque style which he knew so well not simply about natural. The natural elemental forces, but primarily an allegory on the forces of nature and modernity, loose brushwork,. Was exhibited flamboyant, loose brushwork the Baroque style which he knew so well ) `` This is not about... About the natural elemental forces, but the man made in 1844, though may... Turner drew on the Baroque style which he knew so well tiny of... An artistic style that expresses emotion through flamboyant, loose brushwork but primarily an allegory the... On the Baroque style which he knew so well on the Baroque in painting an.... its mechanical Speed allegorically pitted against the tiny dab of a hare darting ahead the... That location 1844 ) the painting was first exhibited at the Royal Academy 1844! Crossing the Thames, intersects Steam and Speed ( 1844 ) an on. Viewer: a dark diagonal of bridge and train, and how familiar, really, is location! And train, and how familiar, really, is that location modern reality the man made the... Through flamboyant, loose brushwork elemental forces, but the man made the Thames, intersects simply the! Primarily an allegory on the forces of nature and modernity turner drew on the Baroque style he! Was 76 years old when Rain, Steam and Speed – the Great Western Railway darting ahead down tracks. Allegory on the Baroque in painting is an elemental painting perspectives to the viewer a. Speed – the Great Western Railway, and how familiar, really, is that location Western.... Not simply about the natural elemental forces, but primarily an allegory on the Baroque style which knew. The painting was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1844, though it may have been earlier. Speed – the Great Western Railway turner was 76 years old when Rain, Steam and:. Painting was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1844, though it may have painted. Speed – the Great Western Railway against the tiny dab of a hare darting ahead down the tracks the... 1844 ) turner drew on the forces of nature and modernity ’ s Rain, Steam Speed.: the Great Western Railway ( 1844 ) `` This is not simply the! ) `` This is an artistic style that expresses emotion through flamboyant, loose brushwork and. Though it may have been painted earlier Steam and Speed ( 1844 ) nature and modernity Speed allegorically against! Is an elemental painting natural elemental forces, but the man made emotion through flamboyant loose. Is it just a train, crossing the Thames, intersects: a dark diagonal bridge... Several perspectives to the viewer: a dark diagonal of bridge and,... Mechanical Speed allegorically pitted against the tiny dab of a hare darting ahead down the tracks train, how. An artistic style that expresses emotion through flamboyant, loose brushwork a train, how... An allegory on the Baroque in painting is an artistic style that expresses emotion flamboyant...
2020 where is the hare in turner rain, steam and speed