TURNER : THE TEMPLE OF JUPITER PANELLENIUS

In July 2008, a Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) show at the Metropolitan in NYC was insured to the tune of $1.2 billion. This 149-work show was the first -- and last -- serious attempt ever mounted outside of Great Britain to present the full scope of the works of William Turner. It was fantastic.

Turner was a magician and poet of color and light and atmosphere who transforms grim reality into a surreal, dreamy land which is both intimate and universal at the same time. As Constable used to say "Turner has airy visions painted with tinted steam".

He was born in London in 1775 and his father was a barber. His mother died when he was very young. The boy received little schooling. His father taught him how to read, but this was the extent of his education except for the study of art. By the age of 13 he was making drawings at home and exhibiting them in his father's shop window for sale. He started as a watercolorist and was the preminent watercolorist of his time. He quickly achieved a fine reputation and was elected an associate of the Royal Academy. In 1802, when he was only 27, Turner became a full member. He then began traveling widely in Europe.

Turner left a large fortune that he hoped would be used to support what he called "decaying artists." His collection of paintings was bequeathed to his country. At his request he was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral in 1851 when he died.

This picture The Temple of Jupiter Panellenius restored was sold for £ 2,100 in 1876 and fetched £ 324,000 ($ 518,400) in 1981. Today part of the Richard L.Feigen gallery in Chicago, Ill.

TURNER : THE LAKE OF LUCERN

Painted in 1842 by English master Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1857), whose style can be said to have laid the foundation for Impressionism. Turner entered the Royal Academy schools in 1789, when he was only 14 years old, and was accepted into the academy a year later. He is commonly known as "the painter of light".

He died in the house of his mistress Sophia Caroline Booth in Chelsea in 1851. He is said to have uttered the last words "The sun is God" before expiring. At his request he was buried in St Paul's cathedral.

This watercolour is one of three finished drawings of this subject that are regarded as amongst the finest achievements not only of Turner, but also of the watercolour medium. The watercolour was acquired after a successful public appeal by The Art Fund which raised over £550,000 in just over 5 weeks.

It was bought for 80 guineas by Elhanan Bicknell in 1842 ; then it was successively sold at Christie’s in 1863, bought by art dealer Agnew’s for J.E.Taylor ; again sold by Christie’s in 1912 and in 1942. Agnew’s bought it again for a private collection; it was bought in 1959 at Christie's for 32450 Pounds and finally at Christie’s in 2006 for a private collection for £5,832,000 ($11,480,276).