1828
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Gallery
Regulus is a 1828 oil by Joseph Mallord William Turner, depicting Port, held at National Gallery.
This painting depicts a dramatic scene with a large ship in the foreground, possibly a warship, with multiple masts and sails. The vessel appears to be in motion, with the bow cutting through the water. In the background, there is a cityscape with buildings and a harbor, suggesting a port or naval setting. The artist's use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and atmosphere, with the sun shining down on the scene. The brushstrokes are expressive and loose, giving the painting a dynamic feel. To learn more about the artist's techniques, explore the topic of chiaroscuro.
Regulus is an oil painting by English artist J. M. W. Turner, initially painted in 1828, and now in Tate Britain, London. It depicts the legend of Roman consul Marcus Atilius Regulus' death, in which he was captured by Carthaginian forces and eventually executed after being blinded by the Sun. The scene is a landscape of either Rome or Carthage, with ships and buildings surrounding the ocean. The painting is dominated by the large white Sun in the centre. Turner originally painted and exhibited Regulus during an 1828 visit to Rome, after which it was transported back to England, where he…
Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The titular figure, Marcus Atilius Regulus, was a Roman consul and general who served in the First Punic War. During the war he was captured by Carthaginian forces, and likely died of natural causes. Some ancient historians wrote stories saying he was tortured and executed by the Carthaginians. According to these legends Regulus was sent to Rome to negotiate a prisoner exchange, but upon arrival he instructed the Romans to refuse, knowing he would be executed upon returning to Carthage. He chose not to break his parole and returned to the enemy city, after which stories tend to vary. In many…
Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Turner began to paint Regulus during his 1828 visit to Rome. He began work on about nine other paintings, but only four were finished during the trip, Regulus, View of Orvieto, Palestrina and Vision of Medea. Of these four, Regulus was likely the first to be completed. Turner stated that it was made to stop the "gabbling" of his peers interested in his activities. In late December 1828, Turner hosted a small exhibition in the Palazzo Trulli, containing three of his finished paintings, Regulus, Orvieto, and Medea. Due to difficulties in sourcing frames for the paintings, they were displayed by…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in 1775 at Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, where his father kept a barber and wig-making shop.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
