Last Thursday, I ventured to the Art Gallery of Ontario to attend the much anticipated J. M. W. Turner: Painting Set Free exhibition.  Nice it was to have run into an old colleague during the members’ preview, when it is then not overrun by tourists, whilst wondering from salon to salon being bewitched and inspired.  This show did not disappoint.

Mercury Sent to Admonish Aeneas

Oil on Canvas

J. M. W. Turner

Provenance: Tate Museum, London, England

This is one of my favourite Turner’s in the exhibition which I will return to at least once weekly for its duration.  You can never be too inspired by great art.

The Departure of the Fleet

Oil on Canvas

J. M. W. Turner

Provenance: Tate Museum, London, England

Regulus

Oil on Canvas

1828, reworked and exhibited 1837

J. M. W. Turner

Provenance: Tate Museum, London, England

Whalers

Oil on Canvas

J. M. W. Turner

Provenance: Tate Museum, London, England

Sunrise with Sea Monsters (detail)

Oil on Canvas

ca. 1845

J. M. W. Turner

Provenance: Tate Museum, London, England

Without doubt, this is my favourite J. M. W. Turner painting in the exhibition currently at the Art Gallery of Ontario.  So sublime yet soulful.  

Self-Portrait

Oil on Canvas

ca. 1799

J. M. W. Turner

Provenance: Tate Museum, London, England

This self-portrait is not in the current exhibition, J. M. W. Turner: Painting Set Free at the Art Gallery of Ontario.  Gosh, I wonder what his Michael Overleaves were.  Based on this self-portrait, I am getting a Scholar/Sage or Artisan kind of vibe off him.  However, since I have never channelled the Michaels and would never think to be a bold-face fraud, I haven’t a clue what his overleaves could possibly be.

Of course, there are more exquisite paintings in the exhibition but it is not my place to include them all herein.  However, one of the most glorious parts of the exhibition occurs on exiting the final salon.

You are magically spirited back in time as though on the set of the masterful Mike Leigh film, Mr. Turner with the able Timothy Spall in the lead role.  Every attention to detail is spot-on.  This gift shop ought to be awarded some design/curatorial award for getting it just right.

From the wallpaper, to the rug the choice of colours; indeed, it could only be topped by having had a live fire going, candlelight.  Goodness, even one of the salons had music and a swelling seascape projected onto the salon’s walls.

By far, this is one of the best exhibitions that I have seen at the AGO since returning to live here from Montréal more than a decade ago.

http://www.tate.org.uk/

http://www.ago.net/

Photo: All photos, Arvin da Brgha using Samsung Galaxy Note4.

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