George Turner (artist)
Encyclopedia
George Turner was an English
landscape artist and farmer who has been dubbed "Derbyshire's John Constable
".
, Derbyshire
in England, but then moved to Derby
with his family. He showed an early talent for music and art - encouraged by his father Thomas Turner, who although a tailor by profession was also an art enthusiast. Turner was largely self-taught and went on to become a professional painter and art teacher.
Turner lived in Derbyshire
all his life. In 1865 he married Eliza Lakin (1837 - 1900), becoming a part-time farmer and raising four children at Walnut farm in Barrow upon Trent
. He had a number of successful students including David Payne
and Louis Bosworth Hurt.
After Eliza's death in 1900, he moved to Kirk Ireton
and later married fellow artist Kate Stevens Smith (1871-1964) - they set up home in Idridgehay
where he died in 1910. His son William Lakin Turner
(1867-1936) also became a landscape oil painter of repute.
Turner worked in oils
and painted bucolic scenes mainly of his native Derbyshire, leaving an important legacy of hundreds of pictures depicting the English countryside before the coming of mechanisation, the motor car and urban expansion. His work was exhibited in Nottingham
and Birmingham
. Turner served on the Art Committee of Derby Art Gallery
and both his and his son's paintings are included in the city's collection.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
landscape artist and farmer who has been dubbed "Derbyshire's John Constable
John Constable
John Constable was an English Romantic painter. Born in Suffolk, he is known principally for his landscape paintings of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home—now known as "Constable Country"—which he invested with an intensity of affection...
".
Life and work
Turner was born in CromfordCromford
Cromford is a village, two miles to the south of Matlock in the Derbyshire Dales district in Derbyshire, England. It is principally known for its historical connection with Richard Arkwright, and the Cromford Mill which he built here in 1771...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
in England, but then moved to Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
with his family. He showed an early talent for music and art - encouraged by his father Thomas Turner, who although a tailor by profession was also an art enthusiast. Turner was largely self-taught and went on to become a professional painter and art teacher.
Turner lived in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
all his life. In 1865 he married Eliza Lakin (1837 - 1900), becoming a part-time farmer and raising four children at Walnut farm in Barrow upon Trent
Barrow upon Trent
Barrow upon Trent is a village and civil parish in the South Derbyshire district of Derbyshire, England. The village is south of Derby, and between the River Trent and the Trent and Mersey Canal . According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 546...
. He had a number of successful students including David Payne
David Payne (artist)
David Payne was a Scottish landscape painter.-Biography:Payne was born in Annan in the old county of Dumfriesshire, the son of a Mason. He was educated at Annan Academy . He initially made his living as a house painter before becoming an artist...
and Louis Bosworth Hurt.
After Eliza's death in 1900, he moved to Kirk Ireton
Kirk Ireton
Kirk Ireton is a village in Derbyshire, England. It is located 4 miles south of Wirksworth nestling on a hillside, 700ft above sea level. Ireton is a corruption of Hyre-Tun in the Saxon and means 'The Irishman's Enclosure'. 'Kirk' was added after the Norman invasion and the building of the church...
and later married fellow artist Kate Stevens Smith (1871-1964) - they set up home in Idridgehay
Idridgehay
Idridgehay is a village in the English county of Derbyshire. -Geography:Idridehay lies south of the town Wirksworth west of the town of Belper in the valley of the River Ecclesbourne. Idridgehay Green is immediately to its west and the hamlet of Ireton Wood a mile to its south.-Transport:The...
where he died in 1910. His son William Lakin Turner
William Lakin Turner
William Lakin Turner was an English landscape artist.-Life and work:William Lakin Turner was born to George Turner and his wife, Eliza Turner in 1867 in Barrow upon Trent. He was educated locally before he boarded at Trent College. He was the eldest of four children and his talent for art...
(1867-1936) also became a landscape oil painter of repute.
Turner worked in oils
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
and painted bucolic scenes mainly of his native Derbyshire, leaving an important legacy of hundreds of pictures depicting the English countryside before the coming of mechanisation, the motor car and urban expansion. His work was exhibited in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. Turner served on the Art Committee of Derby Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery was established in 1879, along with Derby Central Library, in a new building designed by Richard Knill Freeman and given to Derby by Michael Thomas Bass. The collection includes a whole gallery displaying the paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby; there is also a large...
and both his and his son's paintings are included in the city's collection.
External links and references
- George Turner - 'Derbyshire's John Constable' (bygonederbyshire.co.uk - retrieved on 25 Feb 2010)
- George Turner on Artnet
- Works by George Turner (Art Renewal Center)
- Derbyshire artists ("Derbyshire, UK")
- Windley Brook, Derbyshire (1899 - Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
) - Shepherd and Flock by the Trent (Langham gallery)