Imhof, Michael William Turner. Leben und Werk

William Turner (1775-1851) is one of the most famous and innovative painters in the history of art. He owes his fame to the light-flooded landscapes and seascapes of his late phase, which can be described as the forerunners of Impressionism. He was not only forward-looking in his use of colour, but also in his choice of subject matter, his exploration of new means of transport (such as the locomotive and the steamship), the burning of Parliament, the slave ship and beachcombers.

However, Turner preferred to paint picturesque landscapes and cities, above all the natural scenery of Switzerland and Scotland, the cathedrals and abbey ruins in England, castles on the Rhine and Moselle as well as in Wales and dreamlike Venice. German-language publications that provide an overview of the English painter's work are rare. The volume presented here fills a gap in our knowledge, as the outstanding early works, which are impressive views of Gothic buildings - especially cathedrals - are illustrated and analysed. The art historian Michael Imhof has thus succeeded in providing a new perspective on Turner's entire oeuvre. He has also compiled what he considers to be the highest quality works for the book. They are undoubtedly of particular visual appeal.