Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
| Revision as of 09:34, 12 July 2010 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) (Rain, Steam and Speed moved to Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway) ← Previous diff |
Current revision Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| - | [[Image:Rain Steam and Speed the Great Western Railway.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Rain, Steam and Speed - The Great Western Railway]]'' ([[1844]]) by [[William Turner]]]] | + | [[Image:Rain Steam and Speed the Great Western Railway.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway]]'' (1844) by William Turner]] |
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| - | ''[[Rain, Steam and Speed - The Great Western Railway]]'' ([[1844]]) is a painting by [[William Turner]]. It depicts a [[steam]] [[train]] passing over a bridge. Its style can best be described as [[impressionism]] and [[abstract art]] [[avant la lettre]]. | + | '''''Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway''''' ([[1844]]) is an oil painting by British artist [[William Turner]]. It depicts a [[steam]] [[train]] passing over a bridge. This painting was first exhibited at the [[Royal Academy]] in [[1844 in art|1844]], though it may have been painted earlier. Its style can best be described as [[impressionism]] or [[abstract art]] [[avant la lettre]]. |
| + | |||
| + | The [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR) was one of a number of private [[History of rail transport in Great Britain|British railway companies]] created to develop the new means of transport. GWR’s aim was initially to connect [[Bristol]] with [[London]]; its chief engineer was [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The location of the painting is widely accepted as [[Maidenhead Railway Bridge]], across the [[River Thames]] between [[Taplow]] and [[Maidenhead]]. The view is looking east towards [[London]]. The bridge was designed by Brunel and completed in 1838. The line from London [[Paddington]] to [[Taplow]] opened in 1838. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The title follows the Turner pattern of 'nature first' in his titles. A tiny hare appears in the bottom right corner of the painting. Some have interpreted the hare running ahead of the train as a suggestion to the limits of technology. Others believe the rabbit is running in fear of the new machinery and Turner meant to hint at the danger of man's new technology destroying the inherent sublime elements of nature. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The painting is now in the collection of the [[National Gallery, London|National Gallery]], [[London]], [[England]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
| + | *[[Monet's trains]] | ||
| *[[Rain]] | *[[Rain]] | ||
| *[[Steam]] | *[[Steam]] | ||
| *[[Speed]] | *[[Speed]] | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
| + | [[Category:WAC]] | ||
Current revision
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway (1844) is an oil painting by British artist William Turner. It depicts a steam train passing over a bridge. This painting was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1844, though it may have been painted earlier. Its style can best be described as impressionism or abstract art avant la lettre.
The Great Western Railway (GWR) was one of a number of private British railway companies created to develop the new means of transport. GWR’s aim was initially to connect Bristol with London; its chief engineer was Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
The location of the painting is widely accepted as Maidenhead Railway Bridge, across the River Thames between Taplow and Maidenhead. The view is looking east towards London. The bridge was designed by Brunel and completed in 1838. The line from London Paddington to Taplow opened in 1838.
The title follows the Turner pattern of 'nature first' in his titles. A tiny hare appears in the bottom right corner of the painting. Some have interpreted the hare running ahead of the train as a suggestion to the limits of technology. Others believe the rabbit is running in fear of the new machinery and Turner meant to hint at the danger of man's new technology destroying the inherent sublime elements of nature.
The painting is now in the collection of the National Gallery, London, England.
See also
