J M W Turner Research Projects
Project 1: Locations of 1802 Chartreuse Sketches by Comparative Photography
For in-depth reading, refer to Prue Bishop's research paper in the summer 2015 British Art Journal
Project 2: The Northern Part of Turner's 1844 Tour of Switzerland
For in-depth reading, refer to Prue Bishop's research paper in the summer 2016 British Art Journal
Project 3: Turner's Heidelberg Germany - a suggested new title: Susa Italy
For in-depth reading, refer to Prue Bishop's research paper in The British Art Journal published March 2018
Introduction to the Projects
Publication: The results of her Turner 1802 Chartreuse research are published in the summer 2015 issue of the British Art Journal. Included are many photographs comparing Turner's sketches with the same scenes today. The subjects of several sketches are identified for the first time, along with where he stayed and his precise route.
Publication: Spring 2016 issue of The British Art Journal. For the first time, firm dates are dug out of the Heidelberg, Basle and Baden City Archives for the Northern Part of JMW Turner's 1844 Swiss Tour, including a surprising finding that he spent a week in Baden Switzerland in a topmost spa-hotel. Furthermore, a solution to a 174-year-old rhyming riddle is suggested that Turner left in one of his sketches that refers to a book highlighting the shortcomings of certain Oxford University students - that could be interpreted as something of a put-down for the then recently-graduated John Ruskin.
Publication: In the March 2018 issue of The British Art Journal, Prue Bishop reports on two years of study either side of the Mont Cenis Pass between France and Italy, strongly suggesting a re-titling of a late Turner master-oil-painting from Heidelberg Germany to Susa Italy. Tate Britain has informed Prue Bishop that this suggestion has been accepted. When the gallery re-opens after the COVID-19 closure, this very important late Turner oil painting will have a revised title, after over 150 years of controversy.
She has also uncovered additional firm dates
and other facts about Turner's Continental travels that could be
published. Her usual on-the-ground researches are of course temporarily halted until it is safe to continue, that we expect to be well into 2021
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This page was last updated on April 20th, 2020