Joseph Mallord William Turner

1775 - Birth of William Turner in Covent Garden, London, son of a barber and wig maker.
1780's - Although talented in drawing, amongst various early jobs he was refused as a topographical and perspective draftsman but became an assistant to the engraver J. Smith.
1789 - He studied art at the Royal Academy in London.
1790 - First exhibition of a watercolor at the Royal Academy. .
1792 - Began sketching tours of Britain's picturesque countryside, making quick pencil sketches of atmospheric effects and scenery that were later used in watercolor, oil or etching compositions.
1796 - First show of his oil paintings at the Royal Academy e.g. 'Fishermen at Sea' (showing influence of Dutch marine painting). Made fortune and fame with topographic and picturesque land/seascapes.
1797 - Painted at night, producing 'Moonlight at Millbank'.
1799 - Painted 'Norham Castle'. Elected associate member of the Royal Academy (ARA).
1802 - Promoted full member of the Royal Academy (RA). First voyage overseas to continental Europe. Visited the Louvre to see Napoleon's art collection (essentially spoils of war).
1804 - Started to show several oil paintings in his own gallery in Queen Anne Street, London.
1805 - Began his series of oil sketches of the Thames in and around London. Painted the powerful 'Shipwreck', a culmination of his use of luminosity and atmosphere combined with the drama and movement of Romantic subject matter.
1807 - Published the first chapter of his book ‘Liber Studiorum’ (echoing Claude Lorraine's 'Liber Veritatis'). Became professor of perspective at the Royal Academy and taught from 1811to 1828.
1817 - Another trip to France, making more quick sketches in pencil or oil .
1819 - First trip to Italy and a short stay in Venice.
1830's - Bought back his own work to constitute the ‘Charitable Institute’, a project that did not succeed because of the difficulty of the interpretation of his will.
1833 - Second trip to Venice.
1833-35 - Publication of ‘Turner’s Annual Tour’ in several volumes, containing engravings of the views of the Loire and Seine rivers.
1837 - Publication of a collection of his etchings of French rivers entitled ‘The Rivers of France’ with English and French texts.
1839- He painted 'The Fighting Téméraire', a veteran ship of the battle of Trafalgar being tugged up the Thames to be broken up, under scarlet clouds and a symbolic sunset.
1839- His painting 'The Fighting Téméraire' made a sensation at the Royal Academy.
1840 - Turner met John Ruskin in June. Later he traveled to Venice.
1842 - His 'Snowstorm: Steamboat off a Harbour's Mouth' was shown at the Royal Academy.
1841 -84 - Made an independent series of watercolors for his friends, including Ruskin . Annual trips to Switzerland to 1884.
1843 - Publication by John Ruskin (aged 24) of the first volume of ‘Modern Painters’ dedicated mainly to defend Turner’s work.
1844 - Seven paintings, including ‘Rain, Steam and Speed-the Great Western Railway’ was shown in the Royal Academy.
1845 - Nominated Deputy President of the Royal Academy. As a guest of Louis-Philippe, he traveled to France for the last time.
1846 - Moved to 6, Davis Place, Cremorne New Road in Chelsea, where he lived under the name of Admiral Booth.
1847 - Robert Vernon donated his contemporary painters collection to the National Gallery. This included Turner’s first oil painting.
1850 - Four paintings of Turner, inspired by Claude Lorraine, were shown in the Royal Academy.
1851 - Death of the reclusive 'Admiral Booth' in London. He was buried in Saint-Paul's Cathedral.
More than 19,000 watercolors and 280 oil paintings are now mainly kept in the Tate Gallery.


Source for biographical data: catalogue of the exhibition.