Turner's Sketches and Drawings

"Turner's Sketches and Drawings" by A. J. Finberg is a historical exploration of a famous painter's path, highlighting the importance of his preliminary works in creating his well-known masterpieces. The book, written in the early 1900s, examines the sketches and drawings of J.M.W. Turner, showing them as building blocks that led to his success. The author makes clear that these works are not just simple preparation, but essential keys to understanding his art. The text begins by charting Turner's early training, the artists who inspired him, and his move from detailed, real-life representations to a more personal and emotional style of showing nature. It organizes the artist's career into different periods, making it easier to see how his style changed and grew and stresses how looking at these sketches helps people truly understand Turner's artistic talent and the connection to his more famous pieces.