Turner's Oxford at the Ashmolean

Oxford inspired Turner from the beginning to the end of his career and the display reflects this timespan. The exhibition sheds light on the creative process by presenting examples of Turner's meteoric technical advancement. Even at the early age of 12, Turner shows an obsession with the sky which occupies two thirds of some of his early paintings. The accuracy with which he captures the complex architecture of Christ Church Cathedral in many of his drawings is impressive; interestingly he paints the inside only once.

His work is an exploration of a single city, one of the most attractive cities of the early nineteenth century. Turner portrays the reality of our city by placing builders outside St Mary's Church & the Radcliffe Camera (1785) and painting women gathering corn at North Hinksey. The Artist reminds us of the agricultural origin of the Hills that surround our city. There is a sense of the historic, with the first view many undergraduates got of the University as they approached from the London Road (cat. no 48a). There is also a sense of novelty: Worcester College captured before Walton Street was built and the weirdness of the High Street without traffic (1800). In all cases the sandstone of the buildings positively glows with warm colour tones inspite of the darkness of the room. A familiarity with Oxford's streets means Turner's experimental drawings (1799) easily make sense and are terrific as they illustrate Turner's more familiar personal style emerging on our streets. As you leave the Ashmolean, it's irresistible to look at our streets through Turner's eyes.

Lita Doolan & Davina Chapman, 31.7.00