The Life Of J.M.W. Turner, R.A. Founded On Letters And Papers Furnished By His Friends And Fellow Academicians. By Walter Thornbury. [Epigraph] In Two Volumes. Vol. I. (II.)
Vol. I: [Half-t., frontis., t.p.] - Preface - Contents Of The First Volume - List Of Illustrations. Vol. I. (II.) - [Text and pl.]. - Vol. II: [Half-t., t.p.] - Contents Of The Second Volume - [Text and pl.] - Appendix.
Responsibility Note
In Volume I the frontispiece portrait of Turner is unsigned, but is described in the 'List Of Illustrations' as from a statue by P. Macdowell, R.A.; the plate and in-text illustration are unsigned. In Volume II the first plate is signed by 'PWJ'; the second is captioned as from Dance's portrait and is signed as engraved by Pearson; the third is captioned as from Baily's statue. The in-text illustration is captioned as from a drawing by Maclise.
The printer is named on the versos of the title pages: 'London: Savill And Edwards, Printers, Chandos Street, Covent Garden.'
References
E. Joll, ed., The Oxford companion to J.M.W. Turner (2001); J. Gage, J.M.W. Turner (1987); A. Wilton, Turner in his time (1979); Turner 1775-1851 [Royal Academy and Tate exhibition catalogue] (1974); A.J. Finberg, Life of J.M.W. Turner R.A. (rev. 1961).
Summary Note
This was the first biography of Turner, and contains several inaccuracies. Fuller or more perceptive accounts were provided by John Ruskin in his Modern painters (1843-60), P.G. Hamerton's Life of J.M.W. Turner (1879) and W. Armstrong's Turner (1902).
Immediate source of Acquisition
Purchased in, 1867. (See Librarian's Report, RA Annual Report for 1867, p. 26).
Binding Note
19th-century half blue morocco, blue cloth-covered boards; spines lettered 'Life Of Turner 1 (2) Thornbury' and 'R.A.'