Album of engravings, press cuttings and correspondence by or relating to Turner, inscribed 'Original Manuscripts and Letters of J. M. W. Turner'

The collection is largely made up of engravings of Turner's works, done by various people, and press cuttings relating to these engravings. It includes a note about the collection written by Henry Howard, Secretary to the Royal Academy, Turner's lists of his paintings, documents about 'The Fighting Téméraire', a signed card for a Royal Academy lecture, and correspondence with Henry Howard, Samuel Rogers and Mr Bullock. Few items in the collection are dated, those that are suggest the album is from the early 1800s. However, the exact date of the creation of the album is unknown.

Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in April 1775 in Covent Garden, London. About 1786 he went to his maternal uncle in Brentford where he went to school. In 1789, he enrolled in the Royal Academy Schools and exhibited his first watercolour at the Academy in 1790. Turner had so far specialised in watercolours and drawings, but by 1795 he became interested in oils. In 1796 at the age of 16, Turner had his first oil painting hung in the Royal Academy. During this time, Turner made sketching tours of South and Central Wales, the Isle of Wight and the North of England. In 1799, Turner was elected as Associate of the Royal Academy. In 1804, he opened a gallery in Queen Ann St West, in order to show his own work. The gallery closed in 1816. Turner became a full member of the Royal Academy in 1802, although his involvement in it's affairs was minimal. He was however, elected Professor of Perspectives in 1807, and gave his first lecture in 1811. He continued teaching until 1828, and resigned the office in 1837. In 1807, Turner bought land at Twickenham, and began to build Solus Lodge there in 1810. Turner designed Solus Lodge and his father tended the garden. It was sold in 1826 because of his father's failing health. Turner travelled widely in Europe and England, particularly Wales, Scotland, Southern England, France, Switzerland and Italy. During the early nineteenth century, he was also involved in the Artists' General Benevolent Institution, of which he remained a trustee until 1839. In the 1830s, Turner began doing commercial illustrative etchings for publication in books of Byron, Rogers and Campbell among others. In the mid 1830s, Turner began to concentrate more on colour and light effects in his painting, showing less structural detail and more experimentation. In 1845, as the eldest Academician, Turner was chosen to carry out the duties of the President of the Royal Academy, during Shee's illness. Also in 1845, he made his last trip abroad, to Dieppe and the coast of Picardy. In 1846, Turner moved to Chelsea, as he wanted a studio overlooking the Thames. He died there in 1851 and bequeathed most of his fortune and works to the nation. Turner was secretive about his personal life, but he is known to have remained very close to his father, who gave up his barber shop to manage his son's finances. Although he never married, Turner fathered some children and took at least one mistress.

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The album has been re-covered, but is stored in a separate slip case. The items are arranged on loose leaves, in their original order within the volume except the portrait of Turner by Daniell (TGA 7219/2) which is stored in a solander box. The original inscribed covers are stored with the bound album.

Paper list available.

Letters from Turner to A. B. John, 1815 (TGA 7925/31). Notes, drafts and typescripts by Adrian Stokes on Turner and his painting, 1956-1973 (in TGA 8816). Palettes, paint box and items belonging to Turner (TGA 7315 and TGA 871/12). Letter to Turner from Rev. Robert Nixon, 1798 (TGA 941/1). Numerous audio visual material in the TAV collection.