⚡Sunday Art Snapshot: J. M. W. Turner⚡

Turner and the “Year Without a Summer”

Chichester Canal by J. M. W. Turner (1828)

A volcanic eruption at Mount Tambora in 1815 caused the following year, 1816, to become known as the Year Without a Summer, marked by gloomy skies and severe weather changes.

The thick layers of volcanic ash in the atmosphere caused a haze to hang over the sky for several years after the eruption and led to unusually vivid red and orange sunsets.

This atmospheric phenomenon didn’t go unnoticed by artists like J. M. W. Turner. His paintings during this period, like “Lancaster Sands,” often depicted dramatic skies rich in red hues. Turner's fascination with this splendid power of nature aligned perfectly with the fiery skies of that year, still living in some of his most atmospheric works.

Lancaster Sands by J.M.W. Turner (c.1826) (source: WikiArt)

This flashfact is a reference to my JourneyJots post:

A Journey Through Time in the Historic City of Bath

And one last thing - this publication will stay free forever, but if you feel I deserve a cup of matcha 🍵 here and there, then please buy me some - the next drink’s on me! ☕