J. M. W. Turner

J. M. W. Turner started as a precise topographical watercolourist, then painted grand historical landscapes in the manner of Claude Lorrain to win a place at the Royal Academy. From the 1830s, in works such as Rain, Steam and Speed, his paintings dissolved into light, colour and weather, puzzling critics. The Turner Bequest at Tate Britain, including thousands of sketches, lets visitors follow each stage.