https://youtu.be/7GKlo2xWvuI

Artists are tortured and tormented  souls, agree?  There are lots of examples of this sweeping generalization that can be sited;  Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and  Jackson Pollock !

Meet J.M.W. Turner, the early 19th century British painter.  He is known as Britain’s most gifted  painter who was called  “the painter of light”  and master of  exquisite  landscape and seascape paintings with vivid and unforgettable skies.

This is Snow Storm at Sea one of his most well known paintings in a pre-Impressionist  style.

He was fascinated at the potential and power of nature.  He was strapped to the mask of a sailing ship in the manner of  Ulysses, in order to experience first hand the ferocious sea storm. He carried his painting style to blowing, heavy pounding strokes and even spitting on his work in remembrance of the storm.

Timothy Spall  the actor who portrayed Turner was honored as best  at Cannes. Though Turner was not plagued by the self-doubt  and  lack of self-confidence of other creative people, he  was not a typical Victorian gentleman, either.  He described himself as a “gargoyle” observing society from atop a building, would not  win  father or husband of the year awards, and  had one most unusual communication style.  He made all sorts of grunts and groans in conversation with others!

Mr. Turner has no car chases or explosions and my husband thought it would be slow and boring.  But he sat and watched the whole 2 1/2  hours !

For those of you who enjoy films about gifted and often tortured souls , enjoy this film and the unexpected twist of an artist who died rich, honored and respected !