(Vol. vii., p. 15.)
L. E. X. inquires respecting the first work exhibited by the late J. M. W.
Turner, R.A. The statement of the newspaper referred to was correct. The
first work exhibited by Turner was a water-colour drawing of Lambeth
Palace, and afterwards presented by him to a gentleman of this city, long
since deceased. It is now in the possession of that gentleman's daughter,
an elderly lady, who attaches no little importance to it. The fact is, that
Mr. Turner, when young, was a frequent visitor at her father's house, and
on such terms that her father lent Mr. Turner a horse to go on a sketching
tour through South Wales. This lady has also three or four other drawings
made at that time by Turner,--one a view of Stoke Bishop, near Bristol,
then the seat of Sir Henry Lippincott, Bart., which he made as a companion
to the Lambeth Palace; another is a small portrait of Turner by himself, of
course when a youth. As the early indications of so great an artist, these
drawings are very curious and interesting; but no person that knows
anything of the state of water-colour painting at that period, and previous
to the era when Turner, Girtin, and others began to shine out in that new
and glorious style, that has since brought water-colour works to their
present style of splendour, excellence, and value, will expect anything
approaching the perfection of latter days.
J. WALTER, Marine Painter.