william eley
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his life, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual art of the Romantic Age. What he called his "prophetic works" were said by 20th-century critic Northrop Frye to form "what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language". His visual artistry led 21st-century critic Jonathan Jones to proclaim him "far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced". In 2002, Blake was placed at number 38 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. While he lived in London his entire life, except for three years spent in Felpham, he produced a diverse and symbolically rich collection of works, which embraced the imagination as "the body of God" or "human existence itself".
Joseph Mallord William Turner, a seminal figure in British painting, was born in 1775 and left an indelible mark on the Romantic movement. Known for his expressive coloration, imaginative landscapes, and turbulent marine paintings, Turner's work transcends the traditional boundaries of art to capture the sublime force of nature. His career was distinguished by early talent, evidenced by his acceptance into the Royal Academy at the young age of 14, and a prolific output that included over 2,000 paintings and 19,000 drawings and sketches.
William Turner's unique approach to landscape painting, characterized by dramatic skies and atmospheric effects, set a new standard for capturing mood and emotion on canvas. His innovative use of light and color influenced countless artists, elevating landscape painting to rival the status of history painting. Turner's legacy is also marked by his eccentricity and reclusiveness, traits that only added to the mystique surrounding his artistic genius.
Among his most famous works are "The Fighting Temeraire," symbolizing the passing of the old world, and "Rain, Steam and Speed," capturing the Industrial Revolution's impact. These paintings not only showcase William Turner's technical skill but also his philosophical engagement with the changing world around him.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, William Turner's works represent the pinnacle of Romantic art, offering insight into the 19th-century aesthetic and philosophical landscape. His influence on subsequent generations of artists underscores his position as a pivotal figure in the history of Western art.
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William Michael Harnett was an American painter of the second half of the 19th century. He became known as a master of still life. William Harnett was famous for his pictures of deception with extremely accurate depictions of everyday objects, which the viewer often could not distinguish from real things.
William Harnett, unlike most of his colleagues, never sought fame and popularity, so he forever remained faithful to the still life genre he had chosen as a young artist. His biography is a typical example of a successful career of a self-taught artist without academic education.
Harnett's best masterpieces are now preserved in museums in the United States.
John E. Ferneley was an English artist who specialised in depicting sport horses and hunting scenes. Although his rendition of horses was stylised, he is regarded as one of the great British equine artists, second perhaps only to George Stubbs.
Marsden Hartley, real name Edmund Hartley, was an American artist and poet, one of the greatest representatives of classical modernism in the United States.